Arabian Lion

Arabian Lion won his career debut impressively in a 2-year-old maiden race at Santa Anita on Oct. 9, 2022, getting the win at first asking for trainer Bob Baffert in wire-to-wire fashion by a margin of three lengths over a seven-horse field.

Fresh off the maiden win, Arabian Lion was sent to Keeneland for his second career start in a $160,000 allowance race on the Breeders' Cup Friday undercard on Nov. 4. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite that day in a field of 10, Arabian Lion had to settle for second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Giant Mischief at the distance of 6 1/2 furlongs.

Arabian Lion attempted to regroup in his next start, which came back in California in the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity in his first route attempt and first race around two turns. Arabian Lion was favored for the third time in as many races when sent off as the 2-5 favorite a part of a five-horse field, but it did not turn out to be Arabian Lion's day. Sent up by jockey John Velazquez from the outside post, Arabian Lion pressed the pace into and around the second turn and challenged on the backstretch but quickly emptied out and fell back to last turning for home. He finished behind the rest of the field in fifth.