Taiba Adds to Five-Win Day for Baffert in Runhappy Malibu

[Wandering Eyes]

Zedan Racing Stable's Taiba (c, 3, Gun Runner–Needmore Flattery, by Flatter) capped his sophomore campaign and bolstered his chances at an Eclipse award, with a third Grade I victory in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita Monday. The 2-5 favorite tracked pacesetting Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) through fractions of :22.18 and :44.38. He overtook the pacesetter into the stretch and turned for home in tandem with longshot Straight No Chaser (Speightster), who briefly looked a threat. But Taiba put that foe away with a furlong to run and drew away to score by some five lengths, completing the seven furlongs in 1:21.75. Forbidden Kingdom re-rallied for second and Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) was third.

The victory gave trainer Bob Baffert his fifth winner on the opening-day card at Santa Anita, with Fun to Dream (Arrogate)'s win in the GI La Brea S. and Country Grammer (Tonalist)'s score in the GII San Antonio S., as well as the TDN Rising Star debut of Faustin (Curlin) and the maiden victory of the $2.6-million Bletchley Park (Nyquist).

Zedan Racing, co-owner of Country Grammer, had its second graded win of the day.

Taiba, a $1.7-million purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, won the GI Santa Anita Derby in just his second start, earning a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby. He was 12th on the first Saturday in May, but had a productive second half of the season, missing by just a head when second to Cyberknife (Gun Runner) in the GI Haskell S. before winning the Sept. 24 GI Pennsylvania Derby and was most recently third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1. O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Bruce C Ryan (Ky). T-Bob Baffert.

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