Could Presious Passion replicate Gladiatorus?

While Gladiatorus romped at every chance he had when racing in Dubai earlier in 2009, the eyes, and in some cases, the hearts of American racing fans have been affixed on the stylings of Presious Passion, a gutsy 6-year-old gelding intent on one thing – running fast and not being passed.  And, like a fine wine, he’s only getting better with age.

After some initial success as a youngster, Presious Passion has developed into a gritty runner, and last week, managed to set a new stakes and course record at Monmouth Park when winning his second consecutive United Nations Stakes.  Spice Route, fifth in the 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic, was fourth.

With blazing speed, Presious Passion and jockey Elvis Trujillo break away from the gate with aplomb and run as fast and as far as possible, which has now helped push his career earnings towards the $2 million mark.  Below is video of the 2009 United Nations followed by another amazing pacesetting performance when winning the Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park in early 2009.

Based on some cursory research, Presious Passion’s final United Nations time of 2:10.97 appears to be one of the fastest 11 furlong races in North America in some time, with the continental record being 2:10.20, set by the stellar With Approval at Belmont Park in 1990. 

One tactic that has never been regularly successful during the Dubai International Racing Carnival is that of early speed on the turf course.  Perhaps the tide is changing as Jay Peg and Gladiatorus made it consecutive runnings of the Dubai Duty Free (G1) from prominent front-runners leading most every step of the way.  Could Presious Passion replicate Gladiatorus with a Sheema Classic version of a front-running masterpiece?

Presious Passion’s win in the United Nations earned him a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, if his connections choose to enter him.  Regardless, a monster pot in the 2010 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) could be difficult for owner Patricia Generazio to ignore knowing the success their son of Royal Anthem has achieved, even with his growing age.