Cyberknife, Taiba Title Line $1 Million Dollar Derby Pennsylvania

The 3-year-old championship may not be in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), but if TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) is any indication of what’s coming on the 24th, September at Racing Parxit must be a horror movie.

About two months ago, Cyberknife and Taiba staged an epic final match at Haskell July 23, with Cyberknife dominated by a top and they will meet again on Saturday at the top of zone 11 in the 1/8 mile test for children 3 years old.

“I guess so Epicenter finished the 3-year-old title, but I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said Al Gold, who owns Cyberknife multiple times with a level 1 award.

“It’s a quality field and it’s going to be an exciting race for the fans to watch,” said coach Saffie Joseph Jr., who will send the duo’s team. Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio . “I’m sure some trainers will want a smaller field but you have to get the horse running when it’s ready. That’s what racing is all about.”

Cyberknife (post 5, 3-1 morning line) and Taiba (8, 5-2. Gunman first met in the May 7 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), though played little role in the outcome as Taiba finished 12th and Cyberknife 18th.

Since they clashed at Monmouth ParkCyberknife finished in second place ahead of aforementioned Epicenter in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) for coach Brad Cox while Taiba, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, practiced until the Pennsylvania Derby. with Baffert in California.

“Baffert said at the time of Haskell that he wished he had another week to train Taiba, so he should be prepared to go on Saturday,” said Gold, who raced Cyberknife under the Gold Square banner, and said no. sure whether the pony will run in. Longines Classic (G1) or Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) at Breeders’ Cup. “Cyberknife is doing well and we need to do something before the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully we’ll be ready and we’ll have a really good game again.”

Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey from the mare Awesome Flower in Flower Alley, Cyberknife was purchased on behalf of Gold by Joe Hardoon for $400,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Show. He made $1,826,530 for Cox and Gold with a 5-win and 3-second record in 10 starts, which also included a win in Matt Winn Stakes (G3).

Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba arrived at Baffert’s warehouse with high expectations after he was acquired by dealer Gary Young for $1,700,000 from a Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds consignment at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig- Tipton’s Florida Selects for Training Sale .

The Gun Runner foal, bred by Bruce Ryan from the Flatter Needmore Flattery mare, lived up to expectations in his belated debut for Baffert with a 7 1/2-long win in his first race of the day. March 5 at Santa Anita . Park. But when Baffert was suspended for Zedan’s Medina Spirt disqualification effective early April, Taiba was sent to coach Tim Yakteen and quickly won the April 9 Santa Anita Derby to earn a performance for the Run for the Roses competition.

Returning to Baffert’s barn after the end of his hiatus on July 3, Taiba prepared for a trip to Keystone State with bullets in four of his final five works.

Baffert will be looking for a fourth win in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Jeff Down’s Zandon has been a model of consistency for coach Chad Brown, never finishing worse than third in seven career starts.

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner finished third in the Kentucky Derby, slightly behind runner-up Epicenter, and after finishing second against that opponent in Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), he finished in second. three in August 27 Travers, Cyberknife rear nose and 5 1/4 length behind Epicenter won.

“He’s come off Travers in good form. He’s a very durable horse,” said Brown, winner of the 2016 Pennsylvania Derby with Link talking about son of Start up who drew the tracks for Saturday’s race and was pegged as third pick 5-1. “It’s been a tough race but the horse is doing well and a mile and an eighth could be a perfect distance for it. We’ll see what happens.”

Joseph will send the fourth 4th place winner in La Milagrosa Stable’s C2 Racing Stable and White Abarrio. The son of Race day won the Florida Curlin Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1), but has struggled since. Carlos Perez’s $40,000 purchase from the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at OBS March Selling a 2-year-old in training placed 16th in the Kentucky Derby. Then, runner-up after Penn Derby started Port of Tawny in the Ohio Derby (G3), he finished a dull seventh in Haskell, finishing 34 1/4 of the length behind.

White Abarrio landed in 11th place and was listed at a morning price of 8-1.

“I’m not worried about the post because there was a very good run to the bend in Parx and he should be first,” said Joseph. “We were disappointed with Haskell. Maybe it was too much of a race for all the people who had to travel. But we brought him to Saratoga to refresh him and each piece just keeps getting better and better. He sold us on the race, showing us he was ready to run.”

Skippylongstocking’s Daniel Alonso (4, 101) posted his first ranked bet win last time out, edging past the West Virginia Derby (G3) as he chased second and won We who (who will likely set the fractions soon again in the Penn Derby) and register a 1/2 win.

Before that, the son of Magnifier ranked third in both Belmont Shares offered by NYRA Bets (G1) and Wood Memorial offered by Resorts World Casino (G2) and fifth in Preakness Stakes (G1).

“He’s one notch behind these horses but he’s getting better and better. He’s facing better horses here but he’s training moving forward and deserves a chance,” Joseph, who won the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby told Math Wizard . “With We The People in it, he’ll have plenty of speed to chase again.”