Scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 29 at Oaklawn Park, Protege's name was curiously missing when entries came out Jan. 23.
Asked why late Saturday morning, Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, the colt's trainer, whimsically responded: "He caught a case of Arabian Knight flu."
Roughly 5 1/2 hours later, Moquett's medical opinion was validated when heavily favored Arabian Knight, under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, cruised to a front-running 5 1/2-length victory in the Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby (G1) points races, and remained unbeaten in two lifetime starts.
"He came out great," trainer Bob Baffert said via text Sunday morning.
Zedan Racing Stables' Arabian Knight represented the record-sixth Southwest victory for Hall of Fame trainer Baffert and his record-extending 19th overall in a Kentucky Derby points race at Oaklawn.
The son of Uncle Mo had been under consideration for the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita Park before Baffert opted for another road trip following the colt's five-furlong workout there Jan. 21. News broke the following day that Arabian Knight would make his 3-year-old, stakes and two-turn debut in the Southwest.
"That's why I decided at the last minute," Baffert said in the Larry Snyder Winner's Circle following the Southwest. "What I do is I nominate my horses everywhere and whoever's doing great that week gets on a plane."
Arabian Knight, as a heavy favorite, was a front-running 7 1/4-length winner of his Nov. 5 career debut at Keeneland. Racing over a fast main track on the Breeders' Cup undercard, Arabian Knight covered seven furlongs in 1:21.98 to generate an eye-catching 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Baffert brought him up to the Southwest off workouts, eight at Santa Anita since Nov. 28.
Video: Southwest S. (G3)
"His first performance was off the charts, but I gave him a lot of time in between," Baffert said. "I've been just bringing him along at a very easy pace. It was good. You give them time between races."
Next-race plans for Arabian Knight are pending, Baffert said.
"There's no rush," Baffert said. "I just want to keep him healthy and happy. You saw what he did today. It was like an American Pharoah -type race."
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah made his 3-year-old debut in Oaklawn's $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles in 2015. After bobbling at the start, American Pharoah shot to the front, controlled the pace and rolled home by 6 1/4 lengths over a sloppy, sealed surface.
The Southwest offered 40 points (20-8-6-4-2, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Arabian Knight was ineligible for Southwest qualifying points because of Baffert's two-year suspension by Churchill Downs. It stems from his Medina Spirit being disqualified from a 2021 Kentucky Derby victory because of a medication violation. The case is under appeal.
Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby points series continues with the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25 and the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles April 1. Unbeaten Victory Formation (3-for-3) captured the first race in the series, the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1, for trainer Brad Cox.
"We'll definitely have something here for the Rebel," Baffert said.
Baffert's appearance Saturday was his first for a race at Oaklawn since Arkansas Derby Day in 2011.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
