Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight returns to the sight of his biggest victory while making his 4-year-old debut in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar July 27.
Arabian Knight was last seen at the starting gate nine months ago in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 4. After setting a solid tempo, the son of Uncle Mo faded to fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.
Following some time off, the colt trained by Bob Baffert made his reappearance on the work tab April 11 and has steadily worked every six to nine days since, recording three bullets in his last six works.
"We just freshened him up," Baffert said. "I was trying to get a race into him at the end but there wasn't a race for him at Santa Anita. This will be a good start for the Pacific Classic."
The Aug. 31 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar is a $1 million race that Arabian Knight took by a neck last season.
Hopes have always been high for Arabian Knight since Zedan Racing Stables purchased the colt for $2.3 million at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Bred in Kentucky by Corser Thoroughbreds, Arabian Knight has won three of five starts and earned $1,544,275.
Challengers with Something to Prove
Both Express Train and Newgrange, at one time, were able to lay claim to the throne of California's leading older horse.
C R K Stable's Express Train counts victory in the 2022 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) among his five graded tallies. However, the John Shirreffs trainee sat on the bench for the entirety of his 6-year-old season.
"He never had a break," Shirreffs said. "So we thought it was time."
Returning from his near 19-month layoff April 27, the 7-year-old son of Union Rags encountered a tough task while sprinting against California's best in the 6 1/2-furlong Kona Gold Stakes, finishing 5 3/4 lengths behind The Chosen Vron and Happy Jack.
Newgrange was the division's rising star over the winter for Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, and Little Red Feather Racing with victories in the San Antonio (G2) and San Pasqual (G2) stakes. However, the 5-year-old son of Violence failed to kick in the stretch of the March 3 Santa Anita Handicap where he was beaten 11 3/4 lengths.
While that trio attempts to reclaim their position at the top, Dr. Venkman is an interesting new challenger. Raced exclusively in sprints during his four-race career, the Ghostzapper gelding stretches out to 1 1/16 miles over a surface that he sports a 2-for-2 record.
Rounding out the field is Katonah, who enters off a year layoff. Argentinian group 1 winner Subsanador was also entered but has been scratched.
The San Diego is race 8 with post time at 5:30 p.m. PT.
Del Mar, Saturday, July 27, 2024, Race 8Entries: San Diego H. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Express Train (KY) Mike E. Smith 120 John A. Shirreffs 3/1 2 2Katonah (KY) Tiago Josue Pereira 119 Doug F. O'Neill 15/1 3 3Dr. Venkman (KY) Antonio Fresu 118 Mark Glatt 9/2 4 4Arabian Knight (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 124 Bob Baffert 3/5 5 5Newgrange (KY) Kazushi Kimura 121 Philip D'Amato 6/1 98 6Subsanador (ARG) SCRATCHED 0 UNKNOWN -
