Less than a year after the obvious win in the GI Kentucky Derby turned into a nightmare for Amr Zedan, the owner is returning to Churchill Downs for the chance to wash the nasty taste from his mouth. A victory of HOLD Runhappy Taiba wins the Santa Anita Derby (Gunman) will be a redemption after his Medina Spirit (Protonico) was knocked out of the 2021 Derby after testing positive for betamethasone, the start of a bitter battle between Zedan and coaching member Bob Baffert on one side and Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Equestrian Commission.
But Zedan doesn’t see it that way.
“I went to the Kentucky Derby with absolutely no bad feelings for anyone,” Zedan said. “I have no grudges. I just keep walking, keep walking. The resolution process is underway and I am confident that when it comes to our case, we will have a satisfactory ending to the story. Absolutely, there will be no feeling of bribe or want to get even with anyone. “
However, imagine a scenario where Zedan accepts a trophy from his opponent, like Churchill Downs Inc CEO Bill Carstanjen. Zedan says that won’t be a problem.
“I have not sued Churchill Downs yet,” he said. “I have absolutely no bad feelings towards anyone. The Racing Commission has made their decision, I have the right to disagree and by law I have the right to appeal. Right now we are in the appeal process. The most civilized thing to do in a dispute is to appeal to the appropriate jurisdictions and that is what we are doing.”
Most recently in early March, Zedan was horseless for this year’s Derby. Taiba sold for $1.7 million as a 2-year-old boy at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream in 2021, but there were some minor issues that prevented him from racing at the age of 2. Taiba didn’t make his debut until March 5, when he ran away from his competitors to beat a six-haired Santa Anita maiden 7 ½ in length, earning the number 103 Beyer.
After Taiba’s debut, Baffert was forced to accept a 90-day suspension given by the Kentucky Racing Commission for testing positive for betamethasone and the foal was transferred to trainer Tim Yakteen
His debut was a promising one, but conventional wisdom says it matters too little, too late when it comes to Derby. At least that’s what Yakteen and Zedan’s blood counselor Gary Young told the owner. They resisted running in the Santa Anita Derby.
“They wanted to wait for things to settle down and then target Lexington,” Zedan said. “I had to get past everyone. I told them our entire program was built around trying to win the Kentucky Derby. I don’t want to go to bed at night knowing we didn’t give it the best chance. I think we have to give him a shot. Sometimes talent compensates for experience and he showed it.”
It was a big test, and one he passed with surprising ease.
Face off against GII winner San Felipe S. Forbidden Kingdom (American pharoah) and GIII winner Robert B. Lewis S. Messier, Taiba seemed to have given up and was sent off 4-1. With Mike Smith replacing John Velazquez, who was stuck with Messier, Taiba overcame Messier in the final game and equalized to win by 2 1/4.
“Considering everything, it’s a relief that we’ve worked this out,” Zedan said. “Everybody on the team was so ecstatic.”
The Santa Anita Derby wasn’t an easy one, but Zedan knew the Kentucky Derby would be much tougher.
“There are a lot of other moving targets out there,” he said. “You have to worry about post placement, back kicks, moves, a 20-horse field, not a five- or six-horse field. I am managing expectations. We are against fierce competition. It was a good crop. There are three or four horses that come up with very good horses, very fast horses, and stay horses. It’s anyone’s race.”
The story of God Medina turned tragic in December when the horse died of an apparent heart attack after a training session at Santa Anita. For Zedan, the experience is more bitter than sweet. But he understands that his best option is to simply move on.
“It’s been a roller coaster ride for the past year,” he said. “In a year, I have witnessed all the ups and downs of the sport. It sounds cliché, but what doesn’t break you makes you stronger.”
Of course, having a horse like Taiba makes this process easier. He will try to be the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start since Leonatus did so in 1883. It wasn’t easy, but he gave Zedan what he used to be. looks very unlikely – second chance.
