Baffert keeps Arabian Knight on hold after Monday workout

Highly regarded 3-year-old Arabian Knight returned to the work tab Monday at Santa Anita after more than 11 weeks on the shelf for trainer Bob Baffert, who said he would be held out of races until this summer.

Also working for Baffert on a chilly, damp Memorial Day morning were Arabian Lion, winner of the May 20 Sir Barton on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico, and unraced 2-year-old Mirahmadi, who was a $1.05 million auction buy as a yearling.

Workouts: 20 graded-stakes winners breeze Monday.

Arabian Knight worked an easy three furlongs in 37.8 seconds. The son of Uncle Mo has been sidelined since winning the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park by 5 1/2 lengths on Jan. 28. Arabian Knight is campaigned by Zedan Racing, which purchased the colt for $2.3 million at last year’s OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The decision to back off Arabian Knight and await a summer campaign was made following a work March 9. Owner Amr Zedan said at the time the connections weren’t happy with the work, “and we feel it’s in Arabian Knight’s best interest not to rush and allow him more time to develop.”

Arabian Lion, a $600,000 Into Mischief colt also owned by Zedan Racing, worked three furlongs in 36.2 seconds. It was his first drill since a dominant, four-length win in the Sir Barton. Last week Baffert said it was possible Arabian Lion could run in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10, which is the final leg of the Triple Crown. He also suggested the Woody Stephens (G1) as an option on the undercard.

Mirahmadi, who was named after Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, worked from the gate for the first time. He went five furlongs in 1:00.4 in what was his sixth work since April 19.

Mirahmadi is out of the graded-stakes winner More Chocolate, by Malibu Moon. He was purchased for seven figures by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.