Arabian Lion

On a Saturday that included bi-coastal graded stakes for sophomores, the most emphatic performance on the GI Kentucky Derby trail was orchestrated in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park by Tapit Trice (Tapit). It wasn't just the eight-length blowout margin of victory or the 92 Beyer Speed Figure that made the athletic gray's effort stand out. It's the fluid, three-race progression and unruffled demeanor that suggests Tapit Trice is ascending his developmental arc while honing an air of confident capability. A $1.3 million KEESEP yearling owned in partnership by...

Saturday's graded stakes races stretch out from coast to coast and feature significant GI Kentucky Derby implications, but not entirely for the reasons we've come to expect. In South Florida, it is business as usual for the Derby preps while on the West Coast all things Kentucky Derby took an unprecedented turn. On the heels of a very successful GI Pegasus World Cup weekend, Gulfstream Park offers a tremendous card with five graded races, including the 34th running of the GIII Holy Bull S. named for the Hall of Famer...

In each of his four previous trips to the post, Practical Move (Practical Joke) had finished behind Bob Baffert-trained runners, but the bay colt--conditioned by former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen--exacted his revenge in a big spot Saturday afternoon, outfinishing pacesetting Carmel Road (Quality Road) to upset the GII Los Alamitos Futurity as the 10-1 second-longest price on the board. Fort Bragg (Tapit), who was demoted from an apparent victory over Practical Move two starts back, completed the trifecta, while hot favorite 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) was a spent...

The Kentucky Derby points are back on the table in December. Well, for trainers Leandro Mora and Tim Yakteen that is, as it is once again time for the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. In prior contests, it would have been 10-4-2 or 1 to the top four finishers, but since we only have a five-horse field, and with Bob Baffert currently forced to abrogate his Derby egg hunt despite yet another re-christening of his legal stab at Churchill Downs, it is just Mora and Yakteen that are eligible. Out of...

Giant Mischief (Into Mischief) was a bit under the radar here at 6-1 after overcoming a fair bit of adversity to win on debut at Horseshoe Indianpolis Sept. 22, but he assured that won't be the case next out with an impressive score over 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) in a Keeneland optional claimer Friday, earning his own 'Rising Star' nod. The $475,000 KEESEP buy, carrying the Spendthrift colors for this second start, put himself into the early mix from his low draw and stalked from second through a snappy...

Bob Baffert, whose juvenile colts made up the superfecta in Saturday's GI American Pharoah S. led by 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate), unveiled yet another potential superstar Sunday at Santa Anita in the form of Zedan Racing Stables Inc.'s $600,000 OBSAPR acquisition Arabian Lion (Justify). The :10 flat breezer was pounded down to 3-5, with workmate Elwood Blues (Justify) next in the betting at 5-2. The wagering public got it right. Arabian Lion emerged with the early advantage as Elwood Blues rushed up in between foes to be second...

6th-SA, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:38 p.m. EDT Bob Baffert unveils a pair of colts by his undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify in ARABIAN LION and Elwood Blues. Arabian Lion summoned $600,000 at the OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat. Out of SP Unbound (Distorted Humor), the chestnut enters off a trio of bullet works all in company with Elwood Blues. The pair most recently breezed a best-of-59 five furlongs in :58 4/5 at Santa Anita Oct. 2 with Elwood Blues. The group known as the Three Amigos...