National Kid, winner of an allowance race on the lawn at Gulfstream Park last weekend, may be making a trip to Dubai for a tilt in the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night. The lightly-raced, Brazilian-bred son of Dodge is now a perfect 2-for-2 having already scored a highly-impressive maiden blowout over the undulating green of Kentucky Downs in September.
Owner Lansdon Robbins reported the possible trip to Steve Byk on the Thoroughbred Racing Radio Network’s “At the Races.” At 12-1 on the morning line last Saturday, National Kid went off as the 2.40-1 wagering favorite and sat just off a hot tempo and won by 1.5 lengths in 1:35. The final time was tied for the fastest mile on the Gulfstream turf in the first week of racing there.
“He ran very impressively during his debut at Kentucky Downs and Calvin Borel got off him and said [we] had something impressive,” Robbins told Byk. “Our strategy all along was to get a good one and point to the UAE Derby. What we are trying to do now is to strategize to get him over there for a prep race [$250,000 listed Al Bastakiya, 8 furlongs, dirt] on March 5.”
Trained by Ken McPeek, National Kid’s efforts have been incredibly impressive and it helps that McPeek has had success in Dubai before, with his Hard Buck finishing second in the 2004 Dubai Sheema Classic.