Hall of Fame Coach Bob Baffert Says Zedan Racing Stables Class 1 Multi-Class Winner Taiba will skip Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
Taiba worked seven times that lasted for 1:27.40 Friday at Santa Anita . Park in his final preparations for the one-stop mile for kids ages 3 and up, delivering the “Victory and You Are” landing for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November in Arcadia, Calif. Ellipse. He has not been in a race since his bid for eighth place in the Saudi Cup (G1) February 25.
“His works are great, but I don’t want to see them. I just don’t think he’s ready for something like that,” said Baffert, who won the 2017 Metropolitan Award with soul . “I’ll wait and run him at Del Mar. He is doing well, but not well enough for the Met Mile. To run in the Met Mile you have to bring your ‘A’ game and I don’t think he’s been there.”
4 years old gunman the pony’s trio of 1st grade scores came from the Santa Anita Derby last April, the Pennsylvania Derby in September at The Parx . Raceand Malibu Stakes in December at Santa Anita.
Meanwhile, Zedan’s classified shares are placed Arabian lion who hit a lead-length four point in the May 20 Sir Barton Stakes final, will head to Saturday’s Woody Stephens Stakes (G1). He was originally considered for Belmont Stakes (G1), but Baffert decided to point out justification instead, the foal took part in a sophomore seven-way sprint.
“On replays, sometimes they run well. We’ll bring him back two turns later,” said Baffert.
The Arabian Lions, who boasted a 2-2-0 finish in six starts with $217,600 in their pockets, joined Sir Barton from a stellar run to runner-up to first mission on April 15 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
Baffert will also import many classified shares Fort Bragg in Woody Stephens. The faucet colt, who finished third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December, the last runner-up in the Pat Day Mile (G2) behind the returning opponent General Jim on the card under the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
“He’s still improving and perfecting,” Baffert said. “He’s maturing and has a lot of room for improvement.”
Baffert previously won Woody Stephens with Bayern (2014) and American national anthem (2017).
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
