Classics candidate Messier, recently transferred from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert to his former assistant Tim Yakteen, breezed a bullet six furlongs Sunday for the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 9.
Messier was timed in 1:11.40, fastest by nearly three seconds of five recorded works at the distance at the Arcadia, Calif. track.
“He worked lights out,” Yakteen said of Messier, named for hockey great Mark Messier, winner of six Stanley Cups.
“We had Johnny (Velazquez) work him and he'll ride him in the Santa Anita Derby. He gave us a thumbs up. The horse looked great, although he ended up with some unexpected company. We almost had a little training race out there.”
Messier, a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Empire Maker, won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) by 15 lengths on Feb. 6.
Yakteen, a 57-year-old native of Germany who assisted Baffert off and on for almost 10 years between a tour with the legendary Charlie Whittingham, also received promising 3-year-old Doppelganger from the Baffert barn.
“Both horses came to me in good shape,” said Yakteen, who began training solo in 2004. “They were always well cared for.”
A $570,000 son of Into Mischief who worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00.20 on Saturday, Doppelganger is headed to the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 2.
“We'll see if he can validate himself as a (Kentucky) Derby horse, earn some points and take it from there,” Yakteen said. “The horses are doing well, but you still need a little bit of luck.”
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