Taiba

A $1.7 million son of 2017 Horse of the Year and promising young sire Gun Runner, Taiba had great expectations before he first raced. He made his first start in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Santa Anita Park on Mar. 5, 2022, and impressively won by 7 1/2 lengths. He covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.97.

Taiba made his graded stakes debut in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park on Apr. 9. He rated off the pace in the early stages, then moved three-wide on the turn and battled with fellow Tim Yakteen trainee Messier in the stretch. Taiba pulled clear late for the victory, earning 100 qualifying points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. 

Yakteen sent Taiba to Churchill Downs for the May 7 Derby while original trainer Bob Baffert served a suspension. The colt went off as the second betting choice but tired to finish 12^th of 20.

Taiba did not start again until July 23, when he was shipped to Monmouth Park for the $1 million, Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes, back under Baffert’s supervision. He rallied in the stretch and closed with a rush but settled for second by a head to Cyberknife in a fine return to the track. 

In his next start in the Grade 1 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, Taiba got revenge on Cyberknife when victorious in the 1 1/8-mile race with a perfect ride from jockey Mike Smith. Taiba stalked the pace and make his move to the lead into the stretch and drew off to a decisive three-length win over Zandon. If was another 3 3/4 lengths back to Cyberknife in third. Taiba finished in a time of 1:48.67 and paid $4.80 to win as the favorite. The race was the fifth career outing for Taiba, and marked his second Grade 1 win.

Taiba made his next start in the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, where he finished a nonthreatening third behind undefeated superstar Flightline.

After a break of almost three months, he returned in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes on the Dec. 26 opening day card of Santa Anita Park’s winter-spring meet. Shortened up to one turn for the first time since his maiden win, Taiba dominated the seven-furlong Malibu by 4 ¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite to pick up his third Grade 1 win of 2022.

Following such a promising finish to his 3-year-old year, Taiba began his 4-year-old season in disappointing fashion when he shipped to King Abdulaziz Racecourse to enter the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 25, 2023. Taiba never fired that day and finished eighth.