Hill ‘n’ Dale announced on August 19 that Arabian Knight 2-year-old tops bestseller list and is first prize millionaire Uncle Mo has been retired from racing and will arrive at a farm near Paris, Ky. on Aug. 20, where he will take up stallion duties.
Purchased for $2.3 million from the Ocala Breeders’ 2-Year-Old Horse Auction in April 2022, Arabian Knight made his international racing debut on Breeders’ Cup day that year at Keenelandwhere he led a group of colts in the seven-furlong colt race, clearing them by 7 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:21.98.
To put his final time into perspective, the multi-winning sprinter at the Eclipse Good night Olive ran seven furlongs at Keeneland later that day in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) in a time of 1:21.61.
In a post-race interview, trainer Bob Baffert said jockey John Velasquez asked him, “How good is this horse?” Baffert replied, “You ride him like you ride Uncle Mo, because I think he’s Uncle Mo.”
“He’s a beast in sales, which is why he’s so expensive,” Baffert added. “He’s definitely one of the most talented 2-year-olds I’ve ever had.”
When interviewed after the race and asked to compare it to the best horses he had ever ridden, Velasquez replied, “He was impressive, he reminded me of his father, Uncle Mo.”
In just his second start, Zedan Racing Stables’ Arabian Knight dominated the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Parkwhere he was sent out as the 2/5 favourite, taking a 5 1/2 length lead while slowing down. Arabian Knight’s excellent performance followed in September during his 3-year-old season at Del Mar. In the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), Arabian Knight became the first horse to win the 1 1/4-mile race in just three previous starts.
“He showed his intelligence from the first day of the 2-year-old sale, when he was a man among boys,” Baffert said. “We knew he was special from the moment we saw him. He had everything I love in a horse: good form and intelligence.
“He can’t come back like last year. We need more time, but we don’t have it. I don’t want to have another Arrogate situation. This is a horse with special talent,” Baffert added.
Hill ‘n’ Dale owner John Sikura said: “I was at Keeneland the day Arabian Knight broke his record. He was incredibly fast but effortless on his first start, winning without anyone asking. A top-winning son of Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight has the intelligence, physicality and effortless movement that are so important in a stallion. He was the star of the $2.3 million 2-year-old sale and has that ‘it’ factor that we all look for.
“The first time I saw him in person, Bob Baffert said, ‘Let me show you this perfect racehorse. His looks and appearance are flawless.'”
Bred by Corser Thoroughbreds, Arabian Knight finished his career with a 3-0-1 record in six starts and earnings of $1,562,275.
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse team.
