Yakteen leaps into Derby spotlight with former Baffert colts

Arcadia, Calif. 

While in the midst of a career-best Santa Anita meet, things ratcheted up significantly for trainer Tim Yakteen on Friday when it was announced he would take over the conditioning duties of some of Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby prospects.

Messier, Doppelganger and McLaren Vale all took up residence at Yakteen’s Santa Anita barn, and suddenly, he is on the Triple Crown trail for the first time as a trainer. Yakteen previously worked with many of Baffert’s Derby horses while serving two stints as the Hall of Famer’s  assistant, including 1997-2004, when he saddled the likes of classic winners Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Point Given.

In addition to the three colts, who are owned by an extensive partnership that includes SF Racing managed by Tom Ryan, top Kentucky Oaks prospect Adare Manor also was transferred from Baffert to Yakteen by owner Michael Lund Petersen.

At Santa Anita Wednesday morning, Yakteen was matter of fact when discussing his newfound prominence on the Kentucky Derby trail. Things will get started Saturday when Doppelganger competes in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, where a first- or probably a second-place finish would be enough to qualify for the 1 1/4-mile classic.

“You know Tom (Ryan) approached me, and I just thought this is an exciting opportunity,” said Yakteen, who between stints with Baffert also was an assistant for the legendary Charlie Whittingham. “For my team, I’m just really happy for them. And for myself, I’m just looking forward to getting going down the campaign trail. We’ll start this weekend and take it from there.”

Yakteen, who operates a modest stable at Santa Anita and never has had more than 24 winners in a season, was thrust into the Triple Crown spotlight as a result of Baffert’s two-year ban put in place by Churchill Downs. The suspension by the Kentucky Derby host track was issued after Baffert’s Medina Spirit failed the post-race drug test at last year’s Derby.

As a result of that discipline, horses trained by Baffert are ineligible to earn qualifying points for either the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks. Yakteen, who has trained two Grade 1 winners in his career, will need to make up for lost time in the final round of qualifiers. In addition to Doppelganger on Saturday, Messier is slated for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9. McLaren Vale is possible for the same race.

In the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby, Doppelganger is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind the filly Secret Oath (5-2) in a nine-horse field. He will break from post 4 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

By Into Mischief, Doppelganger was a debut winner in December at Los Alamitos and was fourth in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) a month later before being a distant second to Forbidden Kingdom when stretched to two turns in the March 5 San Felipe (G2). He has worked three times since, including a six-furlong drill in a sizzling 1:10.8 on March 20 while still with Baffert.

“I think this is a continuously improving horse and is very healthy at this point,” Yakteen said of the $570,000 auction purchase. “He’s going into this as strong and as healthy as you would want for a 3-year-old to go into a race. We’re looking to have some luck.”

Despite having zero qualifying points, Messier has been among the Las Vegas future-book favorites for the Kentucky Derby since an eye-opening, 15-length victory in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on Feb. 6. The son of Empire Maker has worked five times since late February, including a bullet six-furlong drill in 1:11.4 on Sunday.

“We’ll take things a little easier this week,” Yakteen said of Messier's training regimen. “That was a strong work Sunday, a very impressive work. We have done all the heavy lifting.”

As for McLaren Vale's Santa Anita Derby status, Yakteen remained non-committal. The son of Gun Runner won his bow at Santa Anita on New Year's Eve and then was beaten by 2 1/2 lengths by Forbidden Kingdom when third in the San Vicente in his most recent start.

McLaren Vale has been working steadily but has not breezed beyond five furlongs since the San Vicente.

“We’ll just play it by ear this week,” Yakteen said of the Santa Anita Derby. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby prep will be taken next Wednesday. 

At the current Santa Anita winter-spring stand, which runs through mid-June, Yakteen already has surpassed last year's meet totals for both number of starters and winners. He enters Friday's action hitting at a 22 percent clip with a record of 46: 19-9-4.

"It's just a matter of stock – and getting the races to go that you need to go," Yakteen said.