Strong Field Of 11 Set For Pennsylvania Derby
At 0h01, on September 24, 2022 • By PARX
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will look to win the $1 million, Grade 1 betPARX Pennsylvania Derby for a record fourth time Saturday when Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba leads a field of 11 3-year-olds in the signature event of the season at Parx Racing.
The 1/18-mile Pennsylvania Derby is the 12th race on the 13-race card with a scheduled post time of 6:10 p.m. ET. Taiba, a son of Gun Runner, was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite by Parx racing secretary David Osojnak. Taiba finished second in the $1 million, Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. He was defeated by Gold Square’s Cyberknife, who is trained by Brad Cox and is also entered in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Cyberknife won the Haskell by a head. In his most recent start, he finished second in the $1.25 million, Grade 1 Runhappy Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The son of Gun Runner is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line and the only member of the field with two Grade 1 wins.
Taiba, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, has won two of four starts in his career, all of them this year. Included in his resume is a win in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Baffert won the Pennsylvania Derby in 2014 (Bayern), 2017 (West Coast) and 2018 (McKinzie).
