His first three starts were made in Argentina, the next four in Dubai, two after that in England, followed by six more in Dubai – now, Asiatic Boy will make his American debut on Saturday in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs. The only winner of the UAE Triple Crown (UAE 2000 Guineas, Al Bastakiya, UAE Derby – 2007), Asiatic Boy returns for new trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and comes off of his worst lifetime performance, 12th in the Dubai World Cup well-beaten by Well Armed.
Asiatic Boy, racing for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, will carry 122 pounds with Alan Garcia aboard, the lightest impost since his maiden campaign in Argentina. The son of Not For Sale, formerly trained by Mike De Kock, will also be medicated with Lasix for this nine furlong event which drew a field of seven others.
Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein is the top-weighted favorite and is seeking to become only the second horse to win Grade 1 races on dirt, turf, and a synthetic surface. The Helen Pitts-Blasi trainee won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
It is difficult to hypothesize on Asiatic Boy’s likely performance here as his 2009 campaign is the least-credentialed in his lifetime. The Stephen Foster marks only the 16th appearance in his lifetime but his final Dubai World Cup prep, the third round of the Maktoum Challenge (G2), appears, in hindsight, to have been a relatively weak renewal. Asiatic Boy’s appearance in America seems an attempt to revive a career that has clearly been best served on dirt. While he is likely to improve second off the layoff, Asiatic Boy is 6-years-old and intact, and his connections will surely keep that in mind if his performances are not up to par.
Arson Squad, 11th in the 2009 Dubai World Cup, returns in the Stephen Foster also, carrying 118 pounds.