Taiba, Messier Take First Turns on Churchill Track

Ahead of meeting with about 20 members of the media May 2 at Churchill Downs, trainer Tim Yakteen took some time to scroll the scene with his phone, recording video he said he would send to his sons Sam and Ben.

"My boys will never believe it," Yakteen noted.

That gathering followed on a morning when Yakteen sent out the 1-2 finishers from the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), Taiba  and Messier , to the Churchill track for the first time. Yakteen first sent out Messier around 5:30 a.m. ET, followed by Taiba during the regular track time set aside for Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls at 7:30 a.m. Each horse galloped about a mile.

"Messier can get a little bit strong and I wanted to take him out when it was still dark," Yakteen said, noting that he'll likely switch their times up tomorrow.

Yakteen taking a bit of time to capture a video moment makes sense. While working with top horses is not a new experience for him, being the head trainer with a top Derby contender is a different story for the 57-year-old based in Southern California. As an assistant trainer for Bob Baffert before launching his training career in 2004, Yakteen worked with classic winners, but he acknowledged Monday that it's a different story when you're the head guy.

"I watched it," Yakteen said of the attention Baffert would draw Derby week, "but there's a big difference from sitting in the second chair and then sitting in the first chair."

With Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba and runner-up Messier preparing for Derby starts, Yakteen is in the spotlight. Besides the talents of the two horses, Yakteen is in the middle of the biggest non-racing story of this year's Derby: the current 90-day regulatory suspension of six-time Derby winner Baffert and the trainer's private-property suspension put in place by Churchill Downs Inc that extends through the middle of next year. 

Baffert sent out Medina Spirit  to what would have been the trainer's seventh Derby win last year until that horse failed a post-race drug test for betamethasone and eventually was disqualified from that win. Last year CDI announced that Baffert would be banned from its tracks for two years and his horses would not be able to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby points used to determine the Derby field.

While attorneys for Baffert issued challenges in court, which have been unsuccessful to this point, Messier and Taiba were transferred to Yakteen ahead of the Santa Anita Derby to give each colt a chance to qualify for the Derby. They delivered as Taiba, entered off his debut maiden win, tracked early runners Messier and Forbidden Kingdom  through their duel before rallying in the stretch on his way to a 2 1/4-length win. Two-time grade 3 winner Messier held second.

Since that 1-2 finish, Yakteen has been regularly interviewed by the racing media.

Hovdey: Yakteen Heads into Eye of Kentucky Derby Storm

"It's very exciting," Yakteen said, telling Monday's throng that he wasn't sure he could describe it. "You'd almost have to be standing here and look out that way to get an appreciation.

"It's put me in the eye of the storm and I'll be honest with you, I didn't realize it was going to be like this, but I still would have never hesitated (to take these horses)."

Yakteen began working with Baffert during his Quarter Horse days and in the late 1980s made the jump with him to Thoroughbreds. In 1991 Yakteen moved to work with Charlie Whittingham as his top assistant. In 1997 he returned to the Baffert barn, working with dual classic winners like Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Point Given before going out on his own years later.

Taiba, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, which last year sent out Medina Spirit; and Messier, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm; will be the first Derby runners for Yakteen. While Yakteen has started horses at Churchill previously, he will be looking for his first victory as he enters the week winless there in three starts.

Yakteen said he's taken an approach similar to any other time he claims a horse or otherwise receives a new horse of just trying to make them comfortable in the new environment. He said he assesses each horse and tries to come up with plans that fit each individual.

"(Messier) is very laid back and (Taiba's) got a little more juvenile to him," Yakteen said. "I wouldn't want to turn my back on him. He might tell you that he's standing back there."

The horses did enjoy Monday the big-race experience of exercise rider Humberto Gomez, Justify  's exercise rider for Baffert during the colt's 2018 Triple Crown sweep. Gomez, who galloped each horse Monday, said he had previously worked with Messier. 

Other Baffert employees, such as grooms, are also part of the current Yakteen operation.

Yakteen has faced some key decisions since the Santa Anita Derby, opting to work Messier twice at Santa Anita—five furlongs and six furlongs—while working Taiba just once—six furlongs April 28. The trainer is confident he's made the best decisions for each horse but humble enough to know he doesn't have all of the answers.

"We'll find out if I did it right or not," Yakteen said of Saturday's race.