KENTUCKY DERBY / DAILY REPORT : Once Again, Arazi Unseats Valenzuela

On Wednesday, after watching Arazi spin around on the track with his French exercise rider aboard, Pat Valenzuela joked about how a similar move by the same horse had unseated him before last year’s Breeders’ Cup.

On Thursday morning, Arazi made another unexpected move and dislodged Valenzuela. Like last year, Valenzuela didn’t lose control of the reins. He remounted for Arazi’s workout.

The only time Valenzuela hasn’t been unseated aboard Arazi was when they sailed to a five-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

After Valenzuela got back aboard Thursday, Arazi worked in company with his French stablemate, Akiko. Arazi passed Akiko at the quarter pole and hit the wire in 1:03 1/5 for five furlongs. The last quarter was completed in 24 1/5 seconds.

“We didn’t want to run fast today,” said Allen Paulson, once the sole owner of Arazi before he sold 50% of the colt to Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum for $9 million before the Breeders’ Cup.

Paulson watched Arazi’s workout from track level at the gap on the backside. When Valenzuela rode Arazi back to the barn after the work, he spotted Paulson and said: “We’ll win Saturday. I’ll guarantee you.”

The backstretch crowds continued to grow as most reporters concentrated on Arazi. Along Longfield Avenue, the street that is separated from the backstretch by a chain-link fence, there was a traffic jam of gawkers.

Jack Whitaker, an ABC commentator who saw Arazi win his Derby prep race in France a month ago, said: “There are more people watching this horse work out today than there were watching him run over there,” Whitaker said.