Dubai Race Night » Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

BC Dirt Mile shocker on course for World Cup meeting

PatCummings — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:26:34 +0000

Dakota Phone, 37-1 upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), is likely to make a start on the Dubai World Cup program, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The trip to the Emirates would be the culmination of a campaign starting this weekend in the Native Diver Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park and would continue with California-based preps until the March desert encounter. Possible races mentioned are the Dubai World Cup (G1) or Godolphin Mile (G2).

Click HERE for the full story from the Daily Racing Form.

Furthest Land confirmed for Dubai World Cup

PatCummings — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:18:56 +0000

The surprise winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Furthest Land has been promoted to a start in the 2010 Dubai World Cup (G1). Initially considered for the Godolphin Mile (G2), the Ken & Sarah Ramsey owned colt will step up to the big event in an attempt to give the Ramseys a Dubai World Cup double, having landed the big race in 2005 with Roses In May. Julien Leparoux will ride.

Click HERE for more.

Terrific Challenge stepped back up to top form and took the Jebel Ali Sprint (Listed) and is now pointed to the Al Quoz Sprint (G3) on the Dubai World Cup undercard. Click HERE for more about the win.

Furthest Land pointed to Dubai World Cup if Santa Anita preps successful enough

PatCummings — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:47:06 +0000

The upset winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Furthest Land is under consideration for the 2010 Dubai World Cup at Meydan. A narrow winner in a frenetic finish, Furthest Land was a bargain $35,000 purchase from a claiming race at Belmont Park for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The Ramseys owned 2005 Dubai World Cup winner Roses In May.

Furthest Land, a son of Smart Strike, has shown an affinity for synthetic surfaces, scoring a win over Polytrack at Keeneland before taking the Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) over the same surface at Turfway Park. The win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile was over Pro-Ride at Santa Anita. According to a Daily Racing Form article, Furthest Land will run twice at Santa Anita, in the San Pasqual on 9 January and the San Antonio on 7 February.

Click HERE for more from Daily Racing Form.

Ready’s Echo purchased for Dubai run

PatCummings — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:41:58 +0000

Second home in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Ready’s Echo was purchased by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Zabeel Racing International in advance of the 2010 Dubai World Cup meeting. A son of More Than Ready, he has accumulated career earnings in excess of $500,000 despite never having won more than a maiden race and an allowance conditions race. In starts over all-weather surfaces, Ready’s Echo has one win and three seconds while recording a lifetime record of 11 placings from 14 starts.

Click HERE for more from Thoroughbred Times.

Gayego impressive in Ancient Title victory

PatCummings — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:06:04 +0000

The 2009 Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) winner, Gayego, should leave little doubt in the mind of his handlers as to which Breeders’ Cup race he should contest after a monumental run in the Ancient Title Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. Following fast fractions, the son of Gilded Time was angled well into the middle of the course for a clear run where he exploded past almost the entire field. Gayego was second in the 2009 Godolphin Mile (G2) behind stable companion Two Step Salsa, recently retired to stand at stud in Florida.

Godolphin’s North American assistant Rick Mettee indicated that the Ancient Title would help determine whether the boys in blue run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) or the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). After traversing the six furlongs as he did on Sunday, under Garrett Gomez as the 6-5 favorite, Godolphin seemingly has no choice in the matter. Assisting in the decision would be Godolphin’s budding 3-year-old, Girolamo, who won the one mile Jerome (G2) at Belmont Park this afternoon in a blazing time, and is a logical candidate for the Dirt Mile.

Watch the Ancient Title below.

Gayego returns to G1 company Sunday at Santa Anita

PatCummings — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:06:53 +0000

Gayego, winner of the 2009 Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) on Super Thursday, will return to stakes company for the first time since his second in the 2009 Godolphin Mile (G2). Sunday’s Ancient Title Stakes (G1) will be the setting as Gayego’s performance will dictate where Godolphin sends him for the Breeders’ Cup – Sprint or Dirt Mile.

The winner of an allowance race on the undercard of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup program at Santa Anita, it is clear the son of Gilded Time can get over the Pro-Ride surface that will, once again, host North America’s richest weekend of racing. Garrett Gomez will ride Gayego, who will face a field of nine others in what is traditionally used as a prep for just the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Top California sprinter Zensational is not part of the field as he will most likely be trained up to the race for Bob Baffert.

Gayego made his first start following a winter in Dubai when he aired at Saratoga in an allowance race this August.

Asiatic Boy, Two Step Salsa in action this weekend

PatCummings — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:58:41 +0000

Following a strong second in his first North American start, Asiatic Boy is scheduled to run in Saturday’s Suburban Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. A field of ten were drawn on Wednesday and the field lacks a major standout while offering substantial speed, both of which should benefit the winner of the 2007 United Arab Emirates Triple Crown. Asiatic Boy was second behind Macho Again in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs following a layoff and ship from Dubai, where he was a distant 12th in the 2009 Dubai World Cup (G1). Click below for video of the Stephen Foster Handicap.

Winner of the 2009 Godolphin Mile (G2), Two Step Salsa will be back at that same distance in Saturday’s Salvatore Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park. The race is the first American “Win & You’re In” qualifier for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, with the winner of the Salvatore Mile earning a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Eight are entered for the Salvatore Mile, including likely favorite Smooth Air, second in the Met Mile (G1) at Belmont in late May. Two Step Salsa was beaten more than sixth lengths in his first start since the Godolphin Mile victory when fourth in the Tom Fool Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park.

Well Armed possible for Dubai World Cup

PatCummings — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:06:45 +0000

The Dubai Racing Club reported today that Well Armed, winner of the 2008 San Antonio Handicap prior to a Dubai World Cup third, is likely to be pointed back to the big race. Racing for WinStar Farm, Well Armed also annexed the 2008 Goodwood at Santa Anita but was oddly placed in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile where he had an atrocious ride and finished up the track as a well-backed choice.

Above, the WinStar gang and jockey Aaron Gryder watch the replay of Curlin’s victory.

I am not terribly surprised that these connections are going to give it another go. I spoke with WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden after Well Armed’s 2008 Dubai World Cup placing and he really seemed to bask in the atmosphere of the race and the trip itself. The picture itself tells the story as this was taken a good fifteen minutes after the race, with everyone still hanging around. Add to this the lack of a clear cut American contender, and Well Armed is as likely a choice as any.