Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

“No Grudges”: Zedan Returns to Ky Derby

Less than a year after an apparent win in the GI Kentucky Derby turned into a nightmare for Amr Zedan, the owner is set to return to Churchill Downs with a chance to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. A win by GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) would be a redemptive one after his Medina Spirit (Protonico) was disqualified from the win in the 2021 Derby after testing positive for the substance betamethasone, which kicked off what has been a bitter fight waged by Zedan and trainer Bob Baffert on one side and Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on the other.

But Zedan doesn't see it that way.

“I go into the Kentucky Derby with absolutely no ill feelings toward anyone,” Zedan said. “I carry no grudges. I just keep walking, keep going. The due process is in process and I firmly believe that when it comes to our case we will have a satisfactory ending to to the saga. Absolutely, there will be no sense of redemption or wanting to get even with anybody.”

Imagine, though, a scenario where Zedan accepts a trophy from his adversaries, like Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen. Zedan says that won't be a problem.

“I haven't sued Churchill Downs,” he said. “I have absolutely no ill feelings toward anybody. The racing commission made their decision, which I have the right to disagree with and, according to the law, I have the right to appeal. Right now we are in the appeals process. The most civilized thing to do when it comes to the dispute is to appeal to the right jurisdictions and that's what we are doing.”

As recently as the beginning of March it didn't appear that Zedan had a horse for this year's Derby. Taiba sold for $1.7 million as a 2-year-old at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream same, but had a few minor issues that prevented him from racing as a 2-year-old. Taiba didn't make his debut until March 5 when he ran away from his competitors to win a six-furlong Santa Anita maiden by 7 ½ lengths, earning a 103 Beyer figure.

After Taiba's debut, Baffert was forced to accept a 90-day suspension handed down by the Kentucky Racing Commission for the betamethasone positive and the colt was turned over to trainer Tim Yakteen

His debut was a promising performance, but conventional wisdom suggested that it was a matter of too little, too late when it came to the Derby. At least that's what Yakteen and Zedan's bloodstock advisor Gary Young told the owner. They were against running in the Santa Anita Derby.

“They wanted to wait things out and then target the Lexington,” Zedan said. “I had to overrule everybody. I told them that our entire program was built around trying to win the Kentucky Derby. I didn't want to go to bed at night knowing that we didn't give it our best chance. I thought we had to give him a shot. Sometimes talent compensates for experience and he showed that.”

It was a huge test, and one he passed with surprising ease.

Facing off against GII San Felipe S. winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and stablemate and GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner Messier, Taiba appeared to have his hands full and was sent off at 4-1. With Mike Smith replacing John Velazquez, who stuck with Messier, Taiba got past Messier inside the final furlong and drew clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

“Considering everything, it was a real relief that we pulled this off,” Zedan said. “Everyone on the team was ecstatic.”

The Santa Anita Derby was far from an easy spot, but Zedan knows that the Kentucky Derby will be much tougher.

“There are so many more moving targets now,” he said. “You have the post position draw to worry about, the kickback, the traveling, a 20-horse field and not a five or six-horse field. I am managing expectations. We're up against tremendous competition. It is a good crop. There are three or four horses that come to mind that are very good horses, very fast horses and horses that stay. It is anyone's race.”

The Medina Spirit saga turned tragic in December when the horse died of an apparent heart attack after a workout at Santa Anita. For Zedan, the experience has been more bitter than sweet. But he came to understand that his best option was to simply move on.

“It's been a roller coaster ride over the last year,” he said. “In one year, I've seen all the ups and downs of the sport. It sounds cliche, but what doesn't break you makes you stronger.”

Of course, having a horse like Taiba makes the process easier. He will be attempting to become the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start since Leonatus did it way back in 1883. It won't be easy, but he has given Zedan what once seemed highly unlikely–a second chance.

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Taiba Tops Former Baffert Trainee Exacta in Santa Anita Derby

Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby was billed mainly as a match-up of back-to-back Grade II winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and 15-length GIII Robert B. Lewis S. romper and 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), but the former dropped out of it in the lane after setting the pace, and $1.7-million FTFMAR buy Taiba (Gun Runner) ran by fellow Tim Yakteen trainee Messier to post the 4-1 upset and stamp his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby.

Having earned 'Rising Star' status himself and a gaudy 103 Beyer Speed Figure when airing by 7 1/2 lengths sprinting here Mar. 5 while a member of the Bob Baffert barn, Taiba was one of three Santa Anita Derby runners transferred to Yakteen from the suspended Baffert. The winner carries the same silks as ill-fated Medina Spirit (Protonico), whose betamethasone positive in last year's GI Kentucky Derby sparked Hall of Famer Baffert's recent troubles. Zedan and Baffert are also part of the connections responsible for last month's G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist).

Forbidden Kingdom–perhaps a slightly surprising favorite at even-money over 13-10 Messier–bobbled a tiny bit from the gate but took early command as expected. Taiba was away second fastest, but Messier moved up inside of him into the first bend before Forbidden Kingdom floated them both slightly wide. Mike Smith on Taiba elected to drop in and save some ground down the backside, as Forbidden Kingdom doled out splits of :22.75 and :46.70 with Messier only applying token pressure. Messier turned up the heat after six panels in 1:10.97, and Taiba drafted just in behind them while clearly full of run. Forbidden Kingdom was out of gas at the quarter pole and offered little resistance to Messier. Messier looked briefly like he might shut the door on Taiba as that one bobbled while switching leads, but Taiba soon leveled off, displaying the impressive stride he had just over a year ago at Gulfstream to cruise past Messier under a hands-and-heels ride. Messier was 2 1/4 lengths back, but another 10 clear of Happy Jack (Oxbow), who narrowly spoiled an all-Yakteen trifecta over Armagnac (Quality Road).

“When one comes along like that, he showed he was really good,” said Smith, who has now won four of the last five Santa Anita Derbies and five overall. “He didn't really get away very well. In the first turn, I didn't want to get in the way. I wasn't in any hurry. I felt the others would do the dirty work for me and it set up just fine. He showed just how special he is. He belongs with anyone. He just recovers really well. I'm not getting any younger. As I get older, I have felt that something special is going to happen. This just may lead to that. The sky's the limit.”

Yakteen was visibly nervous before the race, and had sent out heavy favorite Adare Manor (Uncle Mo)–also a Baffert transfer–to be narrowly upset at short odds in the GII Santa Anita Oaks earlier on the card.

“You could have poured me out of a shot glass earlier, but these two horses represented me unbelievably in this race and I'm just absolutely thrilled, floored with the effort that Taiba put forth,” he said. “That was a sensational race, he's just a super horse.”

Taiba picked up 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the win, while Messier–previously ineligible for points during his earlier exploits for Baffert–earned 40 points.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY-GI, $750,500, Santa Anita, 4-9, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.67, ft.
1–TAIBA, 124, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Needmore Flattery (MSW, $732,103), by
Flatter
2nd Dam: Kiosk, by Left Banker
3rd Dam: Phone Switch, by Phone Trick
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Tim Yakteen; J-Mike E. Smith. $450,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $490,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Messier, 124, c, 3, Empire Maker–Checkered Past, by Smart Strike. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($470,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Tim Yakteen. $150,000.
3–Happy Jack, 124, c, 3, Oxbow–Tapitstry, by Tapit. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($0 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV). O/B-Calumet Farm; T-Doug F. O'Neill. $90,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 10, NK. Odds: 4.30, 1.30, 26.80.
Also Ran: Armagnac, Win the Day, Forbidden Kingdom.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Taiba was the second topper at the Fasig Gulfstream sale off a powerful :10 1/5 move, and he cost exactly double that of Gun Runner's next-priciest 2-year-old, fellow future Baffert pupil Flying Drummer. Gun Runner, whose first crop of yearlings cost up to $775,000 and averaged the most among freshmen at $246,413, more than lived up to the auction hype when his runners started to hit the track. He was represented by two Grade I winners last year–including champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu–plus two other graded winners while breaking the record for progeny earnings by a freshman.

The Three Chimneys resident has been on a tear in the last round of Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks preps–Echo Zulu resurfaced to annex the GII Fair Grounds Oaks on seasonal debut Mar. 26; then Cyberknife took the GI Arkansas Derby last Saturday on the same day Beguine was second in the GIII Fantasy S. and Running Legacy was third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. GIII Wither S. winner was beaten a neck Saturday at Aqueduct in the GII Wood Memorial S., two races before Shotgun Hottie was third in the GIII Gazelle S.

Overall, the 2017 Horse of the Year has sired four highest-level winners, seven graded winners and 11 stakes winners.

Flatter, meanwhile, is the broodmare sire of four U.S. graded winners–including last year's GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Juju's Map (Liam's Map)–and another MG1SW in South America.

Taiba's dam Needmore Flattery racked up more than $730,000 having never earned better than a 75 Beyer Speed Figure competing mostly in Ohio-bred company. Her first foal is a still-unraced 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo, and she sold to Leopoldo Fernández Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000 at KEENOV '19 before being exported to France and foaling a filly by Uncle Mo.

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Rudolphe Brisset Confident in New Trainee Blackadder

Rodolphe Brisset has been training on his own for just five years, but he has already come close to what many dream of in starting a horse in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. First he trained Quip (Distorted Humor), the 2018 GII Tampa Bay Derby winner who was pulled from Kentucky Derby contention a few weeks out from the race. Then the next year GII Demoiselle S. winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) clipped heels and fell at the start of the Kentucky Oaks, walking away relatively unscathed but leaving her connections wondering what could have been.

Brisset is due for his share of good luck as Derby week approaches and this spring he could be holding his best hand yet with GIII Fantasy S. winner Yuugiri (Shackleford) training for a probable start in the Kentucky Oaks and Blackadder (Quality Road) preparing for this weekend's GI Blue Grass S.

Three weeks ago Blackadder, who is owned by the partnership that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Siena Farm LLC and Golconda Stable, transferred to Brisset from Bob Baffert's barn while Baffert serves a suspension ordered by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. So far, Brisset is happy with what he sees from the sophomore son of Quality Road.

“We have been able to breeze him twice and he's doing pretty good,” Brisset said. “He is averaged-sized and a pretty stocky horse, but a nice mover. We are happy with the way he is coming up to the race.”

Asked about the difficulties in taking on a horse mid-way through a campaign, Brisset said the situation depends on the horse.

“For him, the transition was pretty easy,” he said. “He's a very easy horse to be around, so we didn't have to overthink it too much. It's more about how they develop and change. With colts, from December to March is usually where they start to change from 2-year-olds to 3-year-olds. That's what you want to see.”

A $620,000 Keeneland September purchase bred by Stone Farm, Blackadder was third to 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) on debut and broke slow in his second start to finish fifth, but put the pieces together to win his third start, a one-mile, off-the-turf contest last December at Santa Anita. In his sophomore debut, the colt won with a late rally in the El Camino Real Derby.

Blackadder breaks his maiden at Santa Anita | Benoit

When Blackadder first transferred to Brisset, his connections were initially favoring the GIII Jeff Ruby S. for the colt's next start. But after drawing an outside post at Turfway Park, they opted for the GI Blue Grass. Unfortunately, they drew the 11 post of 12 starters on Saturday, but Brisset is still content with their decision to stay at Keeneland.

“I do think the composition of the race is a little bit different,” he said. “It looks like all the speed is on the inside of us. Also, this ownership we train for is looking to win a Grade I with this colt and is trying to make stallions, so it was an easy decision.”

Brisset is still riding a high from last weekend at Oaklawn Park. While the GI Arkansas Derby didn't pan out as hoped for his promising colt We The People (Constitution), everything went right for his other trainee Yuugiri. After placing in her first two graded starts in the GII Golden Rod S. and GIII Honeybee S., the Shackleford filly made it to the winner's circle for the GIII Fantasy S.

“She came out of the race in pretty good shape,” Brisset said. “It was a long battle in the stretch but she dug in really hard and we're proud of her. It looked like she has matured. After the Honeybee, we really saw a difference where she got bigger, she was eating even more and training well.”

A homebred for Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara, Yuugiri is now at Keeneland with the majority of Brisset's string.

“I'm always pretty conservative, but obviously the ownership wants to take a shot at the Oaks and it makes sense to try,” her trainer said. “She showed a lot of heart so we are going to keep her at Keeneland for two weeks and then maybe switch to Churchill.”

Brisset has a intimate knowledge of the inner workings of his stable's trainees as he makes it a habit of riding his own horses every morning.

“It may be a little advantageous for me, but I don't think it makes a huge difference,” he said when asked if this practice was beneficial to his training abilities. “I just don't see myself on the ground. I've been riding since I was five, so maybe it's me being selfish and wanting to be on the horse myself. At the same time, I guess I can use all the experience I've gotten from it over the years. When you know the feeling of a good one, you try to find another one with the same feeling.”

Brisset has been around plenty of good horses over the years. He came to the U.S. in 2005 after being invited by Patrick Biancone and fellow Frenchman–and now close friend–Julien Leparoux. He worked for Biancone for two years and then moved to Bill Mott's barn. He assisted the Hall of Fame trainer for 12 years before taking the plunge to open up his own stable in 2017.

Brisset has accomplished much already after five years of training, but with a focus on bringing in well-bred talent, there is certainly more to come.

“We try to maximize to get the best group of horses we can,” Brisset said. “We try to get quality over quantity. We're lucky enough to have some good ones behind us now. It's been working and hopefully we keep doing that.”

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Ken McPeek Talks Derby Hopefuls Tiz the Bomb, Smile Happy On Writers’ Room

Housing as many as three GI Kentucky Derby starters in his barn, trainer Kenny McPeek joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week Tuesday to discuss Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb)'s dirt prospects and potential summer European campaign, his plan for likely GI Toyota Blue Grass S. favorite Smile Happy (Runhappy) to run in all three Triple Crown races, his thoughts on the continuing phase-out of Lasix in American racing and more.

Tiz the Bomb, a dual stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile turf runner-up at two, bounced back from a seventh-place run in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. to sweep a pair of synthetic-track stakes at Turfway, and will head to Louisville after being considered for a start at Newmarket in the Apr. 30 G1 2000 Guineas.

“When we ran him in Florida, the colt didn't handle the Gulfstream surface and the kickback,” McPeek said. “That surface is a little bit different, it's deep, sand-based and he just didn't go for it. I sent him to Turfway to get his confidence back in the [John] Battaglia and that worked out. So the natural next step was the Jeff Ruby and he punched, and ran a super race. I actually felt like he would be a great horse to take over for the 2000 Guineas, and the undulation of Newmarket wasn't any harder or actually could be easier than his victory at Kentucky Downs [in the Kentucky Downs Mile S.]. But due to some logistics and technicalities, he's not going to go, and our next option is either a turf race at Churchill or the Kentucky Derby. I really think at this point, the horse probably deserves a chance.”

As for Smile Happy, a no-doubt Derby contender who will make just his second start as a 3-year-old in Saturday's Blue Grass after a runner-up effort in the GII Risen Star S., McPeek said, “This is a really special colt. I've been sitting on this horse like a keg of dynamite for months now. I didn't want more than two preps going into the Kentucky Derby. I think the [Derby qualifying] points he got in Louisiana will more than likely get him in. I want to see him run well in the Blue Grass, obviously, and being a Lexington boy, it's always fun to win the Blue Grass. I didn't want to over-race this horse this winter. I really sat on him for a reason, because I think he's a horse that can handle the progression of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. And you've got to have some juice in the tank for those races. If you're already a little tired or you've overdone it going into those three races, obviously your horse is going to be taxed. But he could set up really well for those.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, XBTV, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to Secret Oath (Arrogate)'s valiant but losing performance in the GI Arkansas Derby, the beginning of Bob Baffert's 90-day suspension and the latest shenanigans surrounding banned trainer Wayne Potts. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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