Arabian Lion Strong Favorite in Sir Barton

For Zedan Racing Stables' Arabian Lion , the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes May 20 is a chance to prove that he is a player to be reckoned with in stakes competition.

After a frustrating second in the April 15 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is trying him again at 1 1/16 miles. He is the 2-5 morning-line favorite in the field of six 3-year-olds that have not won a stakes race.

The Sir Barton is the fourth race on the 14-race Preakness Stakes (G1) program at Pimlico Race Course that features 10 stakes, six of them graded worth $2.75 million in purses.

First Mission  caught Arabian Lion in deep stretch to win the Lexington and is a contender in the Preakness.

Arabian Lion, who is a son of Baffert's 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify  , jumped to the lead in the Lexington Stakes from the outside post position and had things his own way before First Mission took over.

"I want to give him another chance at two turns," Baffert said. "He looked like a winner. I don't know what he did last time. It was just weird. He was in a good spot. It looked like he couldn't lose and then all of sudden he sort of stopped running there. He's been working well. He looks good. We'll see what he does."

Bred in Kentucky by Bonne Chance Farm, Arabian Lion was purchased for $600,000 by agent Gary Young at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from Hidden Brook. He broke his maiden in October at Santa Anita Park by three lengths in gate-to-wire fashion. He was a close second in an allowance optional claiming race in early November and next was tested in graded stakes company in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 17 and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) Feb. 4, in which he finished fifth and fourth, respectively. He did not compete again during the two months before the Lexington.

Arabian Lion returned to the work tab May 1 following the Lexington Stakes and has worked three times at Santa Anita, most recently going six furlongs in 1:12 4/5. He  will be ridden from post 4 in the Sir Barton by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Staring from post 3 in the Sir Barton will be Tapit's Conquest , who is co-owned by Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, and Madaket Stables. He was a Triple Crown series prospect for trainer Brad Cox earlier this year but his progress was interrupted by a frustrating fourth in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and a troubled seventh in the March 25 Louisiana Derby (G2).

Tapit's Conquest has breezed five times since the Louisiana Derby, going five furlongs May 13 at Churchill Downs in a sharp :59 3/5. He will be ridden for the first time by Luis Saez and is 4-1 on the morning line.

"He's doing well," Cox said. "He's got to step up. I got high on this horse back in February and March, and he didn't quite run as well as I was expecting. I thought the Risen Star was his for the taking. At the eighth pole, I thought he was going to win it. I got really excited. He kind of leveled off a little in the last eighth of a mile at Fair Grounds."

The Sir Barton will be Tapit's Conquest's sixth race and Cox said he is a work in progress.

"He's a nice horse," Cox said. "I think there is more there. We're going to need more. It's a solid race. He's a good colt. I think he's a Tapit   that is going to get better the more he does it. I'm hopeful that he can take a step forward on Saturday."

Denington , a homebred son of Gun Runner   owned by Fern Circle Stables and trainer Kenny McPeek's wife Sherri McPeek's Magdalena Racing, showed promise this winter but was unable to make the next step and get solid footing on the Triple Crown trail. He was 10th in the Louisiana Derby following a sharp win against allowance optional claiming company and ended up fourth in the Lexington Stakes. He drew the outside post and will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat.

Masterwork , a maiden winner March 31 in his first start for trainer Robert Klesaris, drew the rail. Horacio Karamanos is back to ride the chestnut son of Mastery  .

Sheriff Ronnie , owned by Designated Hitters Racing, will attempt to break his maiden in the Sir Barton. The Tale of Ekati gelding will be ridden by Jaime Rodriquez.   

Feeling Woozy , a Maryland-bred owned and trained by Hamilton Smith, has not raced since he was fifth in the Private Terms Stakes March 18 when he was rank early and had to be steadied on the first turn. Regular rider Angel Cruz will be aboard the son of Irish War Cry  .