Kentucky Derby Profile: Arabian Knight
One of the biggest events in horse racing is the Triple Crown, comprising the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Now is the time of year when we start looking at FanDuel’s Kentucky Derby contenders as the races are only around the corner.
One exciting part of horse racing is that you never see the same race, it is always unique, with unique horses, and of these Arabian Knight is a new colt under the spotlight.
In this approaching year’s races, Arabian Knight has been a focus and has had a lot of drama around him already. He races from 2022 and is now in the bid for a potential Triple Crown.
If you are looking to place your bets on a horse with a great outlook, then maybe Arabian Knight is the one to watch, or is he? Let’s find out!
Who is Arabian Knight?
Well, Arabian Knight is a 3-year-old colt, who has been racing since 2022. He was sired by Uncle Mo, out of the Astrology mare Borealis Night, and was trained by Bob Baffert, while racing for Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.
Arabian Knight was bred in the U.S., in Kentucky, and has already raced at Keeneland, Oaklawn Park, and has won there. Not only this but he also has a stakes win at the 2023, Southwest Stakes, too!
He has a lot of potentials and has already proven himself in his previous races, but whether he is enough to take home the Triple Crown trophy is another thing altogether!
Recent Performance
The recent performance of a horse will always give you a good idea of its overall outlook on a track. Remember, the surface is incredibly important, as some horses prefer a dry, sandy track, but others will do better on dirt, or in wet conditions!
| Date | Finish | Track | Distance | Surface | Race | 1st | Time |
| 11/5/22 | 1st | KEE | 7F | Dirt | MSW | Arabian Knight | 1:21:98 |
| 1/28/23 | 1st | OP | 1 1/16 M | Dirt | 2023 Southwest Stakes | Arabian Knight | 1:43:5 |
As you can see Arabian Knight is a great horse to place your bets on, with nothing but success in his notable races, however, while previous races are a great way to get an insight into how a horse will perform, there is much else to consider.
Interestingly, pedigree is just as important!
Arabian Knight Pedigree Profile
When Arabian Knight saw victory at the Southwest G3, he was believed to be a horse with all the potential needed to carry him into the Triple Crown picture, even if he is not yet eligible for the Kentucky Derby.
He is 2 to 2 since his Southwest win, in which he beat a very deep field by 5 ½ lengths. Sadly, he did have a downfall, since he is trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended from starting any horses in the Kentucky Derby this year.
This means that Arabian Knight missed out on any points for qualification.
Yet, the excitement around this horse doesn’t only come from his performance thus far, but also from his pedigree. This young bay colt is a foal of Uncle Mo, who was the champion 2-year-old male of 2010 and is one of the leading sires in North America.
The first crop of foals produced by Uncle Mo produced a Kentucky Derby winner in Nyquist and Mo Donegal who won the Belmont Stakes last year.
He has been famed for passing on speed to his offspring, with a horde of very fast runners in his foals.
With Uncle Mo as part of his pedigree, it is safe to say that Arabian Knight is a much-anticipated horse for a good reason. However, he is also a much-anticipated horse due to his dam as well, Borealis Night, who although failed to crack the trifecta, is a daughter of Astrology.
Astrology won the Iroquois G3, as a juvenile, and came third in the Preakness.
Kentucky Derby Rumurs
There have been countless concerning headlines regarding Arabian Knight and the Kentucky Derby, and back in March we heard he had been taken out of training and would miss the Kentucky Derby! Which is the last thing any of us want!
We heard that wagering was suspended on Arabian Knight, he was the 2nd choice on the morning line behind the favorite for a race on May 6th. However, his trainer was not happy with his latest work and felt it was in the best interest of Arabian Knight to not rush him.
He is still seen as a superior talent, and the idea of the trainers is to point him in the direction of a campaign in the summer and fall. Therefore, while he works as an awesome Kentucky Derby prospect, that is not the case for this year, and we will have to wait to see more of him.
Overall
It turns out that Arabian Knight won’t be seen at the Kentucky Derby of 2023, as he has been suspended for further training. While this is far from what we want, it may end up being better in the long run, and only the future will tell if it is the right decision.
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