Taiba’s comeback is on hold again after trainer Bob Baffert decided not to race the colt Saturday in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
“I’m going to wait and run him at Del Mar,” Baffert told a New York Racing Association spokesperson who posted the news Sunday on Twitter. “He’s doing well but not well enough for the Met Mile.”
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Unraced since he finished eighth as the 9-5 favorite Feb. 25 in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), the 4-year-old son of Gun Runner who is owned by Amr Zedan has had six Santa Anita workouts since April 22. Taiba was clocked going seven furlongs in 1:27.4 on Friday.
TAIBA will skip the G1 Met Mile per HOF trainer Bob Baffert. More in today's notes.
"I'm going to wait & run him at Del Mar. He's doing well, but not well enough for the Met Mile. To run in the Met Mile, you have to bring your 'A' game & I don't think he's quite there yet."
— Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) June 4, 2023
“To run in the Met Mile, you have to bring your A game,” Baffert said, “and I don’t think he’s quite there yet.”
Taiba was a three-time Grade 1 winner last year, scoring in the Santa Anita Derby, the Pennsylvania Derby and the Malibu Stakes. He was the top 3-year-old last year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing third to the now retired Flightline and Olympiad.
The exit of Taiba makes Cody’s Wish a stronger favorite for the one-turn, $1 million mile next weekend at Belmont Park. The homebred Godolphin colt who won the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile will carry in a five-race winning streak. Last month he finished first in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
