Baffert’s Taiba picks up second Grade 1 victory
Taiba, runaway winner of the Santa Anita Derby, picked up his second Grade 1 win at Saturday’s $1-million Pennsylvania Derby. The 3-year-old son of Gun Runner assumed a stalking position for the most of the 11⁄8-mile race before coming off the rail and going to the center of the track entering the stretch and winning by three lengths.
Taiba increased his winnings to more than $1.2 million, getting closer to his $1.7million purchase price as a 2-year-old. He is owned by Amr Zedan, who owned disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, and is trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith.
Taiba beat a quality field in a race including four other Kentucky Derby entrants.
Taiba was the favorite and paid $4.80, $3.00 and $2.60. Zandon, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, was second and Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby and Haskell Stakes, was third. in 1974 and 1975 . ... Former Georgia Tech coach Bill Fulcher died at 88.
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