Arabian Knight is retired, will stand at Hill 'n' Dale Farms

Hill ’n’ Dale Farms announced Monday that Arabian Knight, the Grade 1-winning millionaire by sire of sires Uncle Mo, was retired from racing and was scheduled to arrive at the Central Kentucky farm Tuesday, where he will take up stud duty.

A sale-topping $2.3 million 2-year-old purchase from the OBS April 2-year-olds sale in 2022, Arabian Knight served notice to the international racing world on Breeders’ Cup day at Keeneland where he drew clear from a deep field of juveniles in a seven-furlong maiden race, drawing off by 7 1/4 lengths with a final time of 1:21.98.

To put his final time into a proper perspective, the multiple Eclipse champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive ran the seven furlongs at Keeneland later that day in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 1:21.61.

In a post-race interview, Bob Baffert said jockey John Velasquez asked him “how good is this horse?” To which Baffert responded, “you ride him like you rode Uncle Mo, because I think he is Uncle Mo.”

Baffert added, “he was a beast at the sales, that’s why he cost so much. He has got to be one of the most talented 2-year-olds I’ve ever had.” When interviewed after the race and asked for comparisons to the best horses he has ridden, Velasquez said, “he is so impressive, he reminds me so much of his father Uncle Mo.”

In only his second start, Zedan Racing Stables' Arabian Knight graduated to the ranks of graded-stakes winner in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, where he was sent off the 2-5 favorite, romping by 5 1/2 lengths while gearing down.

After a third-place finish in the Haskell (G1), Arabian Knight’s tour-de-force performance came later in September of his 3-year-old year at Del Mar. In the Pacific Classic (G1), contested at the American classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, he became the first horse to win the Pacific Classic with only three previous starts.

“He showed his brilliance from day one of the 2-year-old sale where he was a man amongst boys. We knew he was special from the moment we saw him. He has what I love in a horse, beautiful conformation and brilliance,” Baffert said.

After the Pacific Classic, Arabian Knight finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. In his only start this year, he was fourth in the San Diego Handicap (G2). His career record stands at 6: 3-0-1 with earnings of $1,562,275.

“He’s just not back to where I had him last year," Baffert said. "We need more time which we don’t have. I just don’t want another Arrogate situation on my hands. This is an exceptionally talented horse.”

“I was at Keeneland the day that Arabian Knight broke his maiden," said Hill 'n' Dale owner John Sikura. "He was brilliantly fast yet effortless in his first start, winning off without being asked. As a Grade 1-winning son of Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight has the brilliance, physicality and effortless motion that are so important for a sire to possess. He was the star at the 2-year-old sale making $2.3 million and has the 'it' factor we all look for.

“The first time I saw him in person, Bob Baffert said, 'let me show you the perfect racehorse, his presence and conformation are flawless.’ ”