Courtesy: Breeders' Cup Official Notes Team
Horse: Arabian Knight
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Was first onto the main track after the break and worked 4f in :47 1/5.
Planned Activity: Will walk at the barn Tuesday, then return to the track Wednesday.
Closer Look: Arabian Knight Follows Baffert’s Pattern of Success
Trainer Bob Baffert has established a familiar pattern of running in—and winning—the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Since 2014, the Hall of Fame conditioner has won the series’ ultimate race a record four times and finished runner-up another three. It’s part of the reason he’s the Breeders’ Cup’s all-time leading trainer in earnings with an accumulated $39,345,000 in purse money.
On Saturday, Baffert will follow this same pattern when he cinches the saddle on Arabian Knight, his latest hope to collect another trophy in the 1 1/4-mile event. The son of Uncle Mo has won three of his four career starts, including the recent Pacific Classic (G1) at the same distance, and already surpassed $1 million in earnings. While he will enter the race as the most lightly raced, the sky remains the limit on his potential.
But what’s an even more familiar pattern is the profile of the four winners he has trained. All four—Bayern (2014), American Pharaoh (2015), Arrogate (2016) and Authentic (2020) — were 3-year-olds and led every step of the way, from gate to wire, in each of their races. Arabian Knight, also in his 3-year-old year, is brilliantly fast, having led at every call in his three career victories.
“We always thought of him as a top-class horse,” Baffert said. “You could see that as a yearling, which is why he cost us a pretty penny.” The colt fetched $2.3 million in the sales ring. A victory Saturday, worth $3.6 million, would more than justify the lofty purchase price.
Arabian Knight made an auspicious career debut, launching himself onto the racing scene with spectacular 7-length victory on the undercard of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup program at Keeneland. So impressive was the win that the running line reported the colt finishing the race “wrapped up.” The race boldly inserted his name into the conversation of potential Kentucky Derby contenders. He further solidified that reputation by shipping to Oaklawn Park and easily capturing the Southwest Stakes (G3) around two turns by daylight in front-running fashion over a sloppy racing surface, launching his 3-year-old campaign.
But a minor setback knocked him off the trail and to the sidelines for nearly half a year.
When he returned to racing in July, it wasn’t for some minor prep race, rather for the Haskell Stakes (G1), always considered a barometer for divisional leadership among 3-year-olds. He was the heavy favorite despite the time away, but the race resulted in his first career defeat.
“The race was a disaster,” Baffert said of Arabian Knight’s third-place finish in which he relinquished the lead late. “He was too fresh and wouldn’t rate on the lead. I think it showed his immaturity. But despite the outcome, we did learn from it.”
That education paid quick dividends. Two months later he ran the best race of his life winning the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, rationing out his speed over the increased 10-furlong distance to win a hard-fought decision. “That was a good race,” Baffert recalled. “I thought he might get beat from the quarter-pole home, but he really dug it. Now he’s finally getting into form where we’re going to see the best of him.”
Arabian Knight has been all business in preparation for the Classic with a steady string of workouts heading into the race. His final prep, today, was a bullet work of 5 furlongs in :59.
“He’s healthy, he’s working well. There have been no hiccups,” Baffert said. “He’s ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his ‘A’ game, I don’t really care who’s running against us. That’s my focus with him.”
Horse: Arcangelo
Trainer: Jen Antonucci
Set: NA
Morning Activity: Walked for a second morning after left rear shoe was taken off Saturday afternoon.
Planned Activity: TBD
The Quote: “He just walked today. I wasn’t able to get the shoe back on yet. He walked for about 45 minutes. There’s no reason not to have an extra walk day on him. He’s pretty fresh back there, so I probably won’t be able to get many more walks on him. I’m happy with the direction it’s going. Everything is going the right way.”
(Is there a fear he might not be able to race?): “Fear is not a data point on this. I don’t have a concern.” -- Jena Antonucci
Horse: Bright Future
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Set: 5:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped approximately 1 1/4m under exercise rider Hector Ramos.
Planned Activity: Will gallop approximately 1� miles Tuesday morning. Time TBD
The Quote: “I think it's important to place him into the race to get a good tactical position. He's adaptable enough that they go real fast he doesn't have to be on the lead, but he does seem to perform at his best when he's at least involved.” – Todd Pletcher.
Horse: Clapton
Trainer: Chad Summers
Set: 7 a.m.
Morning Activity: Jogged 2m under Rikki Ramdial
Planned Activity: Will back up to the wire and gallop 1 1/2 miles Tuesday.
The Quote: “We are not going to overdue anything this week. We want to have an easy week. We will go to the gate on Wednesday and school in the paddock. Everything is good.” – Chad Summers
Horse: Derma Sotogake (JPN)
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Set: 7:30 a.m
Morning Activity: Warmed up with footwork and walking through the parade ring before even more walking and warming up throughout the grounds. Eventually took a couple easy laps, one jogging and one cantering around the Santa Anita main track. All in all, it was approximately one hour of training.
Planned Activity: Will breeze Tuesday
Closer Look: Derma Sotogake Returns to United States
From Kentucky Derby (G1) hype horse to “the other Japanese runner” is the difference six months and an interrupted prep schedule has made for Hiroyuki Asanuma’s Derma Sotogake (JPN), a striking chestnut colt who nevertheless continues to show positive signs since shipping in from Japan for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
A four-time winner from nine starts, the son of dual Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)-placed Mind Your Biscuits spent a Monday morning as unorthodox as his preparation, spending an hour training, including multiple warmup walks and footwork, parade-ring schooling and a couple easy laps of the Santa Anita dirt track.
“They do train longer in Japan, yes, but that was more a function of the training and break schedule at Santa Anita, as well as the uniqueness of the grounds here,” reported international agent Kate Hunter, who has overseen the recruiting, shipping and general logistics of all Japanese Breeders’ Cup runners.
A one-sided winner of the UAE Derby (G2) in March, the top-rated dirt 2-year-old in Japan of 2022 came into the Kentucky Derby in May as a contender many believed was Japan’s best-ever chance for victory in the Run for the Roses. A 14-of-18 draw and hindered start proved too much to overcome, but he did make a brief bid and ran with credit to finish sixth under Christophe Lemaire, who retains the mount Saturday. Said effort, along with his sprinter sire, also have raised concerns over his stamina.
“He ran in the UAE Derby from the front and that went well, but missing the jump was everything in the Kentucky Derby,” trainer Hidetaka Otonashi said. “I am not concerned at all about (stamina). Mind Your Biscuits’ progeny have been winning over 1800 meters and 2000 meters in Japan.”
Since the First Saturday in May, the goal for the three-time stakes winner has been to return to America for the Breeders’ Cup. Plans hit a speedbump a mid-September in the form of a foot injury that prevented him from a scheduled late-September prep in the Nippon TV Hai, where he would have faced Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Ushba Tesoro (JPN).
“Unfortunately, after training well, he had a little setback with a hoof issue and he missed the prep race,” Otonashi said. “He recovered very well, and he is moving very well now.
“He was finishing well in Kentucky, and he ran a good race,” Otonashi concluded. “As far as this race, he does not need to be on the front and following the leader would be the best for him — but I don’t mind if he leads the race like in Dubai.”
Missing his prep also delayed a much-anticipated clash with Ushba Tesoro, who won the Nippon TV Hai and has coincidentally been his walking buddy to the track in the mornings since arriving at Santa Anita. Adding fuel to the rivalry fire is that many speed-figure devotees believe that Derma Sotogake’s UAE Derby effort over 1 3/16 miles at Meydan was a superior run to Ushba Tesoro’s win three hours later of 1� miles.
In such, it appears that the World Championships in America will be where racing fans finally find out who the better Japanese horse is, even if they had to cross the world to do it.
Horse: Dreamlike
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Set: 6:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped approximately 1 � mile with exercise rider Dominic Merrit
Planned Activity: Will gallop approximately 1 1/4 miles. Time TBD.
The Quote: “He won an allowance race at Saratoga. Then he came back with a little bit of a disappointing effort in a Saratoga allowance but redeemed himself with a fast-closing second in the Pennsylvania Derby. He was third in the Wood Memorial when he was still a maiden. He's a horse that we've always had high expectations for as well and kind of compared him a little bit to Bright Future in terms of one that's shown a lot of talent and is just on the verge of delivering that.” – Todd Pletcher
Horse: Missed the Cut
Trainer: John Sadler
Set: 5 a.m.
Morning Activity: Jogged a mile under Juan Levya.
Planned Activity: Scheduled to gallop at same time Tuesday morning.
The Quote: “He will go to the gate one day this week.” – John Sadler.
Horse: Proxy
Trainer: Mike Stidham
Set: NA
Morning Activity: Scheduled to arrive from Kentucky on Monday.
Planned Activity: Will likely jog Tuesday morning, with routine training leading up to Saturday’s Classic.
Horse: Saudi Crown
Trainer: Brad Cox
Set: None
Morning Activity: Is en route to California.
Planned Activity: Will jog Tuesday at Santa Anita.
The Quote: “We always knew he was talented. He was just about to make his debut when we had a setback last summer at Saratoga. I give a lot of credit to the owners for their patience. Since his first race in April (at Keeneland), he’s shown how talented he is. I have a lot of confidence in him right now.” – Brad Cox
Horse: Senor Buscador
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Set: 7:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Dennis Means.
Planned Activity: Same schedule as Monday.
The Quote: The Quote: Regarding post position draw Monday afternoon: “If I could choose, it would be an outside post.”
Horse: Ushba Tesoro (JPN)
Trainer: Takagi Noboru
Set: 6:50 a.m.
Morning Activity: Leading out a group from the quarantine barn at 6:50 that included Win Carnelian (JPN), Win Marilyn (JPN) and Songline (JPN), he had a routine warmup and canter around the Santa Anita dirt track before parade ring walking and schooling in the gate. The gate schooling did not go as well as planned. The Dubai World Cup (G1) winner kicked out multiple times and was irritable with the gate crew.
Planned Activity: Routine maintenance training scheduled for Tuesday. A blowout breeze on Wednesday.
The Quote: The Quote: “The gate is set lower than in Japan and he’s such a big horse that the doors brushed against his hocks in an awkward manner, causing him to kick out. The vet checked him over and there are no issues. We will school him again on Wednesday after his breeze. For horses with similar issues, Santa Anita provides green mats that tie to the inside of the starting gate that we will use with him. They hug the hind-end and make it easier. We will now use that with all of our runners.” – Kate Hunter, Breeders’ Cup’s Japan representative, overseeing the recruiting, shipping, and general logistics of all Japanese Breeders’ Cup runners
Horse: White Abarrio
Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Set: 6:30-6:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Emily Ellingwood.
Planned Activity: Will go to track between 6:30 and 6:45 to gallop 1 1/2 miles, then visit starting gate.
The Quote: “We’re very happy with him. I like what I’ve seen. The owners like what they’ve seen; they were both here today. We galloped him this morning and the rider said he felt great. We’re just going to continue to move forward.” – Chip Dutrow, Richard’s brother and assistant
Closer Look: Quick Decision Leads to One Quick Horse
When his brother Mark called, Clint Cornett listened. Within 24 hours they owned White Abarrio, the now 4-year-old colt who is headed to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
White Abarrio secured a berth in the Classic with an emphatic 6 1/4-length victory in the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In event at Saratoga Race Course.
The Cornett brothers – Clint lives in Flower Mound, Texas, Mark in Naples, Florida – decided in 2021 to end a 10-year hiatus and return to racing as active owners. Their goal was to acquire a horse that would take them to the Kentucky Derby (G1). On Friday, Sept. 24, Mark called from Gulfstream Park after watching White Abarrio win his debut by 6 3/4 lengths. Clint said his brother was excited by the way the 2-year-old inexperienced colt ran.
“If I remember correctly, he said ‘this is the one,’” Clint said, “just seeing him his first time out.”
The Cornett brothers, who had run as Turf Express and were involved in more than 20 partnerships, made the deal with owner-trainer Carlos Perez that evening and sealed it the next day.
“White Abarrio was the second horse we bought,” Clint Cornett said. “(Mark) was at the track, saw him break his maiden, and it just really caught his eye. He did something a lot of horses don't do first time out from the one hole, and then, coming into the top of the stretch, just split two horses like it was no big deal, then carried on and won I think by 6.
“We talked to Carlos, purchased him privately and came up with a plan for him,” Clint Cornett said. “The plan worked out to get to the Derby.”
In the Cornett’s C2 Racing Stable colors with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio romped in an allowance race a month after the purchase, and finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November. He opened his 2022 season with a 4 1/2-length score in the Holy Bull (G3) and secured the points he needed for a Derby berth by winning the Florida Derby (G1). In the Derby he was a disappointing 16th of 20. Though he was second in the Ohio Derby (G3), he was off the board in the Haskell Stakes (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1). In his final start of 2022, he was third, beaten a half-length in the Cigar Mile (G1).
“He could have easily won that race if he wasn’t stuck down on the rail in 4 inches of water,” Clint Cornett said.
White Abarrio ended up eighth in the season-opening Pegasus World Cup (G1), but turned in a smart win in an allowance race on March 4. Racing for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. he was third, missing second by a head, in the Met Mile (G1) on June 10. After looking at the probable starters for the Whitney, White Abarrio’s connections opted to change course and try the 1 1/8 miles race instead of waiting for 7-furlong Forego (G1) later in August. White Abarrio delivered under Irad Ortiz Jr.
The Cornetts have done very well with White Abarrio, who Clint said was acquired for a “mid six figures” price. He has won five of 13 starts, earning more than $1.8 million and carried them to the Derby and now the richest race run in America.
“It's not only the return on the investment,” Clint Cornett said, “but it's very rare. unless you're just spending multi-multi-millions of dollars that you run across a horse like this. We spend our share of money, don't get me wrong, on that. But it's one of those scenarios where I think these are once-in-a-lifetime experiences with a horse.”
Horse: Zandon
Trainer: Chad Brown
Set: 7:15 a.m.
Morning Activity: Jogged a circuit of the Santa Anita dirt before returning promptly to the Chad Brown barn. Shipped in Sunday from New York and had worked on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Planned Activity: Will have a routine gallop on Tuesday.
Closer Look: Zandon Gets Chance to Shine in Breeders’ Cup Classic
Trainer Chad Brown has long thought Zandon deserved to run with the best and prove himself among its elite and Saturday the 16-time Breeders’ Cup winner will try to take home his first Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) trophy with the Jeff Drown-owned charge. Having shipped from New York on Sunday, the nearly black 4-year-old colt had an easy jog of the Santa Anita Park dirt and appears to be in good flesh as he hopes to do two better than sire Upstart, who was third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
“He looked fine today and just jogged,” Brown said. “All of our horses worked a couple days ago, so they just jogged and all looked well.
“He’s coming into the race in the right way and I love the way he finished his last race off. Obviously, if the pace scenario works out for him, I could see him getting the mile and a quarter. It was very important for him last time, I felt, to break through and finish up his race the right way and win one. He did it well.”
A three-time winner who never has finished worse than fourth from 13 starts, the earner of $2,140,000 exits a one-sided victory in the Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack over 1 1/8 miles—the same distance over which he achieved his sole top-level tally in the 2022 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Shipping across the country, he now must step back up to 10 furlongs for the first time since finishing third in last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
“Obviously, he has to step up here against a much tougher group, but I love the way he did it in the Woodward and all of the relative speed figures say he we are within range with him,” Brown said. “I’m hoping we are just catching him at his absolute peak form right now and I feel like we should be.”
In the Woodward, he returned to the closing style that won him the Blue Grass and a highly respectable placing on the First Saturday in May. Placed five times in Grade 1 company, including seconds in this year’s Whitney and Met Mile, Zandon picks up a new rider who has no less than 14 World Championships victories of his own.
“Frankie Dettori will ride him and put him wherever he is comfortable,” Brown said. “I don’t want him to be too far away, but wherever he is comfortable is what’s most important. Frankie has not ridden him before, but he’s not only one of the best riders I’ve ever seen, but also an incredible judge of pace. He will figure out where he’s happiest travelling, while also getting him out in the clear where he can make his late run.
“We have always thought highly of him and he’s run against the very best, so his form lines are very strong,” he concluded. “It’s very important and would be very rewarding to win with this horse.”
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