Taiba Races Away In Pennsylvania Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Zedan Racing Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' TAIBA (c, 3, Gun Runner–Needmore Flattery, by Flatter) completed a Grade I double for the unstoppable Gun Runner, enjoying the run of the race in Saturday's GI betPARX Pennsylvania Derby before shooting clear in the stretch to take it by about 3 1/2 lengths. Ridden for speed by Mike Smith, in the irons for the Derby victories of the Baffert-trained West Coast (Flatter) in 2017 and McKinzie (Street Sense) the following year, Taiba dueled early on with White Abarrio (Race Day), but when it was clear that the latter was going to make the lead at all costs, the chestnut was eased back into a ground-saving fourth from close up. Simplification (Not This Time) and 'Rising Star' We The People (Constitution) added some fuel to the fire, but Taiba continued to travel well while being asked a bit leaving the three-eighths pole. Angled out sharply around Simplification in upper stretch, Taiba hit the front and was punched out mostly hands and heels to hit the line a clear-cut winner. Zandon (Upstart) sat an inside trip beneath Joel Rosario and made steady progress up the inside, but could not reach the winner. Cyberknife (Gun Runner) looked to exchange bumps with We The People while launching his own bid and was up in the final jump for third. It was a fourth Derby win for Baffert. Sales history: $140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0. O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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