Taiba

Taiba made his debut on March 5 in a Maiden Special Weight event over 6 furlongs at Santa Anita. Starting as the 1/2 odds-on favorite, he dueled for command up the backstretch, vying with Mauritius and Magicnthemoonlight while along the rail on the turn, then inched ahead with a quarter-mile remaining, shaking free at the top of the stretch and powering away to a 7+1⁄2-length victory in a fast time of 1:09.97.[5]

One month later, owner Amr Zedan, jumped the colt from his six-furlong maiden victory to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby event over the 1+1⁄8-mile distance. Trainer Tim Yakteen said a few days before the race that it was "going to be a bit of an ask" for the chestnut colt to win. Yakteen also said that Taiba had been training forwardly and that "he has impressed very much in the morning." Veteran jockey Mike Smith picked up the mount after John Velazquez chose to ride stablemate Messier. Taiba started well and was in range of leaders Forbidden Kingdom and Messier early, then ranged up three wide to challenge in the stretch. Taiba caught Messier approaching the final sixteenth and drew off for the win, stopping the timer in 1:48.46. With the win, Taiba gained enough qualification points to start in the Kentucky Derby.[4]

In the Kentucky Derby, Taiba was no factor and finished twelfth in a field of twenty, beaten by nearly 18 lengths to longshot Rich Strike.[6]

After a ten-week break, Taiba started in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. He battled with Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife through the straight to come up short by a head in a track-record time of 1:46.24 for the 1+1⁄8-mile distance. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "Mike (Smith) had him in a spot to win and we just came up short. Cyberknife got a great trip. (Taiba) was stuck down there and he was not happy being stuck behind horses. I was really worried at about the three-eighths pole. Mike said that when he got him out in the clear, he just kicked in."[7]

After resting the colt on the West Coast, Baffert brought him out on September 24 to Parx Racing near Philadelphia for the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby against a field of three-year-olds that included Cyberknife, GI Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon, and recently third in the GI Travers Stakes and GII West Virginia Derby winner Skippylongstockin. As the 7/5 favorite, Taiba posted a three-length victory over Zandon with Cyberknife in third, nearly four more lengths away, in a time of 1:48.67. After winning the event for the fourth time, Baffert said, "It was a tough race, a good field. The main thing is that he ran his race. Lately he has been very willing. I can see the improvement. Today was his day. I really think he is starting to figure it out."[8]

Taiba finished third to Flightline in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Racecourse.[9]

On opening day of the Santa Anita Park's 2022–23 Winter-Sprint meeting, Taiba ran in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. Starting as the 2/5 odds-on favorite in the seven furlong sprint for three-year-olds, Taiba ridden by jockey Mike E. Smith started weell and followed leader Forbidden Kingdom. When Taiba reached the top of the stretch, it appeared that maybe he wouldn't have the punch he needed, but that was an illusion. Taiba kicked in, pulling alongside Forbidden Kingdom, and then drew away to score by 4+1⁄4 lengths in 1:21.75. Forbidden Kingdom finished three-quarters of a length in front of third-place Hoist the Gold.[10]