Welcome back to Belmont Park Bob Baffert. Making his first local appearance since watching Justify complete a sweep of the Triple Crown with his victory in the Belmont Stakes here five years earlier, Baffert made a triumphant return to New York on Saturday when sending out Arabian Lion to a popular and very impressive 1 3/4-length victory over the previously undefeated Drew’s Gold in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.
Arabian Lion is the first horse Baffert has raced in New York since March 5, 2022, when Rockefeller finished last in the Gotham. Baffert was barred by NYRA for one year, a ban that ended in late January.
A son of Justify, Arabian Lion had been somewhat of a disappointment for Baffert after breaking his maiden in impressive fashion at first asking last fall at Santa Anita. He started to showcase his talents when a game second to First Mission in the Grade 3 Lexington earlier this spring and followed up that improved performance with an even better one in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard by registering an eye-catching four-length victory for which he received a career best 103 Beyer Speed Figure. Baffert sent Arabian Lion back to Santa Anita immediately after the Sir Barton but saw enough in his training over the next two weeks to ship him back for the seven-furlong Woody Stephens.