Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Uncle Mo’s Arabian Knight Cruises To ‘Stardom’ At Keeneland

Gunned from the middle of the gate by jockey John Velazquez, Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo–Borealis Night, by Astrology) took over from the opening strides and never gave his opponents a chance, winning at first asking by 7 1/4 lengths to kick off Saturday's Breeders' Cup card with a bang and become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for Bob Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables. The $2.3-million sale-topper at OBS April after a sharp :9 4/5 breeze, Arabian Knight went off with plenty of hype as the 3-5 favorite in a deep field of juveniles. On the lead through an opening quarter in :22.47, he kept finding more as the field exited the far turn and easily opened up down the lane, defeating Determinedly (Cairo Prince) by 7 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:21.98. Expect More (City of Light), representing the same connections as Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Forte (Violence), completely missed the break but did very well to rally for second.

Amr Zedan's operation, which also purchased GISW 'TDN Rising Star' Princess Noor (Not This Time) from Top Line Sales out of OBS April in 2020 for a sale-topping $1.35 mliion, picked up another expensive colt this year at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale when he dropped a record $3.55 million on a colt by Bernardini now named Hejazi, who was third in the GI American Pharoah S. last month behind stablemate Cave Rock (Arrogate).

The 13th 'TDN Rising Star' for leading sire Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight is the first foal out of a half-sister to MGSP Kinsley Kisses (Congrats) and GSP Spooky Woods (Ghostzapper). Borealis Night, who was purchased by Corser Thoroughbreds for $285,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale with Arabian Knight in utero, foaled a colt by Quality Road this year and was bred back to Curlin for the 2023 season.

1st-Keeneland, $149,375, Msw, 11-5, 2yo, 7f, 1:21.98, ft, 7 1/4 lengths.
ARABIAN KNIGHT, c, 2, Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Borealis Night, by Astrology
2nd Dam: Winter Forest, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Shivering Six, by Saratoga Six
Sales history: $250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $2,300,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $86,025. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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Saturday Insights: Baffert Unveils $2.3M Arabian Knight, The Return Of Messier, And More On Breeders’ Cup Undercard

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-KEE, $150K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 10:30 a.m.
After working an eighth of a mile in a blazing :9 4/5, ARABIAN KNIGHT (Uncle Mo) achieved a final bid of a sale-topping $2.3 million from Zedan Racing Stables at this year's OBS April Sale after fetching $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The first foal out of a half-sister to MGSP Kinsley Kisses (Congrats), the bay posted a trio of speedy works on the west coast leading up to his debut including six furlongs from the gate in 1:12 (2/5) Oct. 23 and a five-furlong drill in 1:00 (6/39) Oct. 29. Also taking to the track in the afternoon for the first time Saturday is the Brad Cox trained Rocket and Roll (Bolt d'Oro), himself a $675,000 purchase and the third-highest price out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale. His dam, who has produced six winners from as many to make the races, is a daughter of champion grass mare Soaring Softly (Kris S.) and hails from the family of GISW Plenty of Grace (Roberto) and GSW & MGISP Recepta (Speightstown). Rocket and Roll sold twice as a yearling–first for $65,000 at Fasig-Tipton July and for $90,000 a few weeks later at KEESEP. TJCIS PPS

2nd-KEE, $195K, Aoc, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 11:05 a.m.
Last seen trailing home longshot winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) in this year's GI Kentucky Derby, MESSIER (Empire Maker) makes his return to the track back under the tutelage of Bob Baffert. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for his 6 1/2-length maiden-breaking win, he went on to claim the GIII Bob Hope S. and finished out his juvenile campaign with a narrow loss to Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. He blew the doors to his 3-year-old year wide open with a 15-length romp in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 6 before joining trainer Tim Yakteen to finish second behind stablemate and GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Taiba (Gun Runner) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9. Transferred back to Baffert following his distant finish at Churchill Downs, Messier makes his first start Saturday in six months with regular rider John Velazquez aboard. TJCIS PPS

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 10:50 a.m.
The second foal to make the races out of MGISW I'm A Chatterbox (Munnings), JUNIPER'S MOON (Galileo {Ire}) makes her first start Saturday for trainer Anthony Dutrow. A $725,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by J.R. International Holdings, the chestnut worked four furlongs from the gate in :48.4 (9/33) Oct. 31 and gets Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Breaking one gate further out, Natural Beauty (Blame) debuts for Christophe Clement and owner Cheyenne Stable. Herself a $525,000 yearling, she is the first foal out of a half-sister to MGSW Blamed (Blame). TJCIS PPS

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Breeders’ Cup Weekend Ready for Take-Off!

LEXINGTON, KY – Led by unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit), the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships–consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million– return to Keeneland for a third time with a two-day run beginning Friday.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s–does it get any better than that?–are expected for the 'Future Stars Friday' program. Cave Rock (Arrogate) will put his unbeaten mark on the line for Bob Baffert in the Juvenile while Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) headlines a wide-open renewal of the Juvenile Fillies. There will also be a trio of Breeders' Cup grass races for 2-year-olds with Godolphin's European invader Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) leading the way in the featured Juvenile Turf.

Some of the top storylines for Saturday's absolutely stacked program–there's currently a 40% chance of afternoon showers in the forecast–include: Flightline's quest for glory in the $6-million Classic; a showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates Malathaat (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin) in the Distaff; War Like Goddess (English Channel) taking on the boys in the Turf; the unexpected return of the talented Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) off a 14-month layoff in the Mile; and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) shooting for a third win at the Championships in the Turf Sprint.

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

For wall-to-wall coverage of all 14 Championship races, click here for Friday's preview edition and click here for Saturday's preview edition.

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Curlin Colt Fights For ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors

Fort Warren (c, 2, Curlin–La Appassionata, by Bernardini), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, took race-long pressure through fast internal fractions and clung on gamely late to graduate at first asking Sunday at Santa Anita en route to the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. He is the 22nd 'Rising Star' for his leading Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion.

Away only fairly from the inside gate, Fort Warren had to be used some by go-to rider Juan Hernandez, but speared through to take up the running and covered the opening couple of furlongs in a slick :21.75, with second-time starter Johannes (Nyquist) glued to his flank. Ridden along on the turn while maintaining a narrow advantage, Fort Warren always appeared to be going slightly better than Johannes after a half in a testing :44.65, but that duo soon had company in the form of the well-meant firster Spun Intended (Hard Spun), who sat a wide trip near the tail early on before coming into the race nicely, having covered significant ground on the turn. Fort Warren turned back the Johannes challenge once and for all in upper stretch, but Spun Intended refused to go down without a fight, as he battled bravely for every yard, only to drop a long-neck decision.

“This horse, being by Curlin, they're not supposed to have that kind of speed, but he's a beautiful horse and we're excited about him,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “That was a tough field…Having the one-hole and having to go that fast early and then he would let that horse get past him. He showed a lot of grit.”

The Feb. 11 foal is the lone listed produce for his SW/GSP dam, a full-sister to GSW Wilburn and a half to Grade II-winning juvenile Beethoven (Sky Mesa) and to the dam of GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who sadly passed away after foaling Fort Warren in 2020. Moonlight Sonata, who won the GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie S. at odds of 60-1 in 2002 for trainer Bill Helmbrecht, is also the dam of $1.1-million KEESEP yearling A.P. Sonata (A.P. Indy), whose son Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) won this year's GIII Kitten's Joy S. for Whisper Hill Farm and was a latest third in the GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct. Stonestreet purchased Moonlight Sonata for $750,000 carrying the filly that would become La Appassionata at Keeneland November in 2012. This is also the family of champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

The cross of Curlin over A.P. Indy-line mares has resulted in countless winners at the graded level and, when bred specifically to Bernardini dams, Curlin is responsible for MGISW and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff hopeful Clairiere, GISW Paris Lights and other graded winners Cezanne and 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice.

6th-Santa Anita, $62,500, Msw, 10-30, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.92, ft, 1/2 length.
FORT WARREN, c, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: La Appassionata (SW & GSP, $162,920), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Wheatly Way, by Wheatly Hall
Sales history: $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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