Quality Road was scratched at the gate of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) when misbehaving while attempting to load.  The gate crew blindfolded the colt, who was sidelined from the Kentucky Derby trail earlier that year with hoof issues, and that exacerbated the situation.  The son of Elusive Quality is now two-for-two since the incident with wins coming over his beloved Gulfstream Park surface.  Saturday, he was well-respected from the bettors, installed as the 2-5 prohibitive choice. 

Quality Road has yet to have a start over a synthetic surface, but trainer Todd Pletcher was intent on trying that approach at Santa Anita before the gate scratch.  With a $10,000,000 prize looming, and a sensitive horse clearly showing the best form of his career, is it enough to lure him to the desert?  We think so…do the connections?

Cigar first used the race in 1996 before tasting victory in the inaugural Dubai World Cup, Captain Steve managed the feat in 2001, and Invasor most recently completed the Donn-to-Dubai double in 2007.  Harlan’s Holiday and Medaglia d’Oro, both second in the Dubai World Cup in 2003 and 2004, respectively, won the Donn in their final starts before the desert-bound trip.  Brass Hat, the 2006 Donn champion, was second in the World Cup to Electrocutionist but later disqualified after trace amounts of a banned substance were found. 

This year, without a major player in the handicap division of American racing, and given the country’s domination of the $6,000,000 race, focusing on the Donn is natural.

A.P. ARROW and GREAT HUNTER, fourth and fifth in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, are 10-1 and 15-1, respectively, on the morning line of this year’s Donn.  Most of the attention will be paid to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (pictured below) and Rick Dutrow-trainee, ARSON SQUAD.  Graham Motion’s improving and lightly-raced BULLSBAY along with FINALLYMADEIT and SIR WHIMSEY round out the Dubai World Cup nominees amongst the Donn starters.

Albertus Maximus preparing for the 2008 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Barring a major upset, it is probable to expect that the winner of this race would assume narrow favorite status for the 2009 World Cup.