Arabian Knight Runs to $2.3M Price Tag in Maiden Score

Not all top juveniles of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships competed on Future Stars Friday. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert unveiled an exciting 2-year-old on the undercard of the second day of the Breeders' Cup Nov. 5 at Keeneland, with Zedan Racing Stables' Arabian Knight rolling to 7 1/4-length victory in the opener, a $149,375 maiden race. Having been purchased for $2.3 million earlier this year from the Top Line Sales consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, the Uncle Mo colt came with lofty expectations. He met those Saturday by spurting to the lead under John Velazquez and pulling away with limited encouragement from the Hall of Fame jockey, completing seven furlongs in 1:21.98. He paid $3.52 to win. "I just got to tell you, he was so impressive," Velazquez told TVG. "He reminded me so much of his father." Velazquez was the regular rider of Uncle Mo, the champion 2-year-old male of 2010. As Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stables began an interview with BloodHorse after the race, Baffert shouted, "Tell them they're going to have to water the track because he dried it out," an apparent reference to the colt running like the wind. "I've never been for one of my horses' maiden wins," said Zedan, a Saudi Arabian businessman. "I'm really happy to be here in Keeneland and to see this promising prospect." Bred by Corser Thoroughbreds, Arabian Knight is the first winner from two foals produced from the non-winning Astrology mare Borealis Night. The dam's other foal is a Quality Road colt born this year. Zedan praised his team in the selection of Arabian Knight earlier this year after the colt worked a quick furlong in :9 4/5. Bloodstock agent Gary Young, with Baffert seated alongside, signed for the colt at OBS. These are the same connections that acquired the late Medina Spirit, among other graded-winning horses, for the owner. "We look at it from a business perspective. Obviously, there is a sport element, but from the business perspective it's a portfolio," Zedan said of reaching to $2.3 million to purchase Arabian Knight. "Luckily, I'm blessed to have a great team with everyone I work with, but on top of everybody is Bob." The colt would not appear to be a 2023 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) candidate, apart from a change of trainer, as Churchill Downs Inc. has barred Baffert from competition at its tracks through the middle of next year. That action came after Medina Spirit showed the prohibited raceday presence of betamethasone after crossing the wire first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, one of a handful of high-profile post-race positives from the trainer during a one-year period. Medina Spirit was ultimately disqualified by track stewards, a ruling under appeal. Arabian Knight could compete in preps leading up to the Derby, though without being eligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points, also due to CDI's current ban of Baffert. The Southern California-based trainer often chooses to run one or more of his top 2-year-olds in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at 1 1/16 miles late in their juvenile seasons. That $200,000 race, which Baffert has won a record 13 times (counting victories when the race was previously held at defunct Hollywood Park), is Dec. 17.