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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