Baffert taps brakes on Taiba, will not race him in Met Mile

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.

“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.