Watch: Derby hopeful Taiba works under Epicenter rider Rosario

Louisville, Ky.

Just three days before he enters the starting gates for the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Taiba turned in a timed workout Wednesday morning.

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner worked three furlongs in 38.4 seconds over the Churchill Downs main track under jockey Joel Rosario. It was the fourth-fastest of six works at the distance.

Wednesday’s workout was the second timed move for Taiba since winning the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. The Tim Yakteen trainee went six furlongs handily April 28 at Santa Anita in 1:12.8 before shipping to Kentucky.

Taiba, who was assigned 12-1 morning-line odds for the Kentucky Derby, will break Saturday from post No. 12 under jockey Mike Smith. Rosario will pilot Epicenter in the Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen but worked Taiba on Wednesday as Smith had not yet arrived in Louisville.

"He asked me to come and work him,” Rosario said of Yakteen. “He's a very nice horse. I just thanked him for the opportunity in the morning to get on him."

Rosario, Eclipse Award winner as racing’s top jockey in 2021, was asked if he got any clues about how he could ride Epicenter against Taiba.

"We don't worry about that,” Rosario said. “We'll just go have a race and see who's the best."

This is not the first time Taiba has worked this close to a start. He also moved three furlongs April 6, three days before clinching his Kentucky Derby berth by winning the Santa Anita Derby.

Zedan Racing Stables campaigns the Gun Runner colt Taiba, a $1.7 million auction purchase last March. He has made only two starts in his career, winning both.

From Churchill Downs, Horse Racing Nation's Ron Flatter reported for this story.