Trainer Bob Baffert has established a familiar pattern of running in—and winning—the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Since 2014, the Hall of Fame conditioner has won the series' ultimate race a record four times and finished runner-up another three. It's part of the reason he's the Breeders' Cup's all-time leading trainer in earnings with an accumulated $39,345,000 in purse money.
On Saturday, Baffert will follow this same pattern when he cinches the saddle on Arabian Knight, his latest hope to collect another trophy in the 1 1/4-mile event. The son of Uncle Mo has won three of his four career starts, including the recent Pacific Classic (G1) at the same distance, and already surpassed $1 million in earnings. While he will enter the race as the most lightly raced, the sky remains the limit on his potential.
But what's an even more familiar pattern is the profile of the four winners he has trained. All four—Bayern (2014), American Pharaoh (2015), Arrogate (2016) and Authentic (2020) — were 3-year-olds and led every step of the way, from gate to wire, in each of their races. Arabian Knight, also in his 3-year-old year, is brilliantly fast, having led at every call in his three career victories.
“We always thought of him as a top-class horse,” Baffert said. “You could see that as a yearling, which is why he cost us a pretty penny.”
The colt fetched $2.3 million in the sales ring. A victory Saturday, worth $3.6 million, would more than justify the lofty purchase price.
Arabian Knight made an auspicious career debut, launching himself onto the racing scene with spectacular 7-length victory on the undercard of the 2022 Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland. So impressive was the win that the running line reported the colt finishing the race “wrapped up.” The race boldly inserted his name into the conversation of potential Kentucky Derby contenders. He further solidified that reputation by shipping to Oaklawn Park and easily capturing the Southwest Stakes (G3) around two turns by daylight in front-running fashion over a sloppy racing surface, launching his 3-year-old campaign.
But a minor setback knocked him off the trail and to the sidelines for nearly half a year.
When he returned to racing in July, it wasn't for some minor prep race, rather for the Haskell Stakes (G1), always considered a barometer for divisional leadership among 3-year-olds. He was the heavy favorite despite the time away, but the race resulted in his first career defeat.
“The race was a disaster,” Baffert said of Arabian Knight's third-place finish in which he relinquished the lead late. “He was too fresh and wouldn't rate on the lead. I think it showed his immaturity. But despite the outcome, we did learn from it.”
That education paid quick dividends. Two months later he ran the best race of his life winning the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, rationing out his speed over the increased 10-furlong distance to win a hard-fought decision.
“That was a good race,” Baffert recalled. “I thought he might get beat from the quarter-pole home, but he really dug it. Now he's finally getting into form where we're going to see the best of him.”
Arabian Knight has been all business in preparation for the Classic with a steady string of workouts heading into the race. His final prep, Monday, was a bullet work of five furlongs in :59.
“He's healthy, he's working well. There have been no hiccups,” Baffert said. “He's ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his 'A' game, I don't really care who's running against us. That's my focus with him.”
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