Baffert trained Dubai World Cup winners Silver Charm and Captain Steve and was second with Indian Blessing in the 2009 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).

In America, Indian Blessing (pictured below), second in the 2009 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) behind Big City Man, won her first race of the year with a nip and tuck stretch-long battle against Godolphin’s Sara Louise in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park. 

The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is the likely next start, and also the expected career finale, for Indian Blessing.

Click HERE for more on the Gallant Bloom.

Trainer Bob Baffert has taken his filly along at a crawl this year, with no starts in three months leading up to the Dubai Golden Shaheen and only one since then, measured a full 2.5 months ago.  Having drawn only five other competitors, the number of entrants is not of particular concern, but the quality at least two of those fillies lining-up against Indian Blessing offers pause.  Godolphin’s Music Note will shorten up to the Ballerina’s seven furlongs after a dull June return since a third behind Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.  Informed Decision carries recency on her side with a perfect 3-for-3 mark in 2009 comprised of two Grade 1 wins and a Grade 3 score in her last performance. 

In other Dubai/Saratoga-related racing news, the 2008 UAE 1000 Guineas and UAE Oaks winner, Cocoa Beach, gets back into graded stakes action following a win in a listed event earlier in the meeting.  She is one of eight to face the starter in the Ballston Spa Handicap (G2) over 8.5 furlongs on the turf.  Cocoa Beach is the most accomplished horse in the Ballston Spa, owning a lifetime record of 10 wins and two seconds and a third from 14 lifetime starts with earnings just shy of $1.7 million. 

Vineyard Haven, a disappointment when he failed to acclimate to the UAE climes, is one of nine to go in the King’s Bishop (G1) for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs.  In his only 2009 starts, the privately purchased son of Lido Palace was fourth beaten 12 lengths by Desert Party, Regal Ransom, and Redding Colliery.  The King’s Bishop is an awfully ambitious spot to make a return, especially in a field that includes successful and in-form competition such as Big Drama, Capt Candyman Can, and Munnings.  That being said, Godolphin’s team has done nothing wrong at Saratoga, winning or placing in all but one race from eight Saratoga starts this season.

Jeff Mullins, who began working Big City Man in early June at his Hollywood Park stable, reported via phone interview Tuesday, that the son of Northern Afleet completed his Sunday breeze in good order, finishing six furlongs in 1:13.40.

“We had one more string go out after him and when I got back to the barn, I was told he started showing some signs of colic.  We treated him immediately and he showed no signs of improvement,” said Mullins, well-rooted in the Southern California racing community, and starter of six runners in Dubai, recording placings from Captain Squire (3rd) in the 2003 Dubai Golden Shaheen and Choctaw Nation (3rd) in the 2005 Dubai World Cup (G1). 

“He didn’t respond to the treatment and we sent him to an emergency clinic.  They opened him up to find a strangulated cecum,” Mullins said.  “The cecum was dead.”  Located in the large intestine, the cecum is a crucial element in digestion, processing undigested feed which is large enough to hold upwards of ten gallons of water, according to an equine anatomical survey from TheHorse.com. 

Big City Man (right, white blaze), with Jose Verenzuela up, wins the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3)
Photo courtesy Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club

Big City Man won three races in Dubai this year, capped by the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, defeating Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing and Diabolical.  Bred in Florida by the Four Horsemen’s Ranch, he finished his career with six wins and two seconds from eight lifetime starts with earnings in excess of $1.5 million.

Indian Blessing, second in the 2009 edition of the race, has been somewhat listless since returning from Dubai.  Following a poor fourth in the Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park, Indian Blessing is topweighted in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) over seven furlongs on the dirt.  A field of nine fillies and mares will contest the Rooney, the only grade one affair on the card.

Benny The Bull, winner of the 2008 Dubai Golden Shaheen, leads a field of six in the the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2).  While the Richard Dutrow trainee was retired following a minor injury in the second half of 2008, he was returned to the track and was a gallant second behind Fabulous Strike in the True North Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park in early June.  Benny The Bull will spot six to twelve pounds to his five rivals. 

Click HERE for more on the Summit of Speed from Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form.

Click HERE to read the full column.

The American-based workouts for this Bob Baffert charge have been flawless and her appearance at Nad Al Sheba does nothing to diminish her chances on Saturday.  12-for-12 in the top two of her career, she has rarely run a bad race.  The only possible concerns for her backers would be her foray into open company (having never faced males in her life) and coming off a three month layoff.  They are just that – “possible concerns” – and reasons why you might not consider backing her in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.  Leave her out at your own risk – she looks the part here.

John Sadler-trainee MACHISMO is surely a chiseled chestnut who looks to pull off the shocker after failing to hit the board at Turf Paradise in the Phoenix Gold Cup. 

Sadler has some previous experience here in Dubai having landed the 2004 Golden Shaheen with Our New Recruit.

The modern history of the Dubai Golden Shaheen dates to 2000.  Previously, the race had been run as the Nad al Sheba Sprint but failed to garner the attention until 2000, when Sheikh Mohammed transformed the Dubai World Cup into a gargantuan night of racing. 

Since 2000, 13 females have been entered in the race and the best finish by an American was Xtra Heat, third in the 2002 edition, beaten just 3.5 lengths by Caller One.  Bear Fan, a Wesley Ward trainee, checked in with the second-best finish by a Yank, finishing 5th in 2005 behind Saratoga County.  Considering that Xtra Heat was one of the top sprinters of the decade, this should say something about her title as the highest finisher amongst her gender.

Other fillies and mares to contest the race: Dantelah (2000, 8th), Serenita (2001, 5th), Pipalong (2001, 10th), Broad Appeal (2002, 5th), Misty Eyed (2002, 12th), Cacique Bar (2002, 13th), My Belle Jour (2003, 4th), National Colour (2007, 16th), Sarissa (2008, 11th).

Americans have dominated the race, winning all but one of the runnings (2003 - State City).  So if you are looking for an angle, Indian Blessing’s hopes aren’t dashed based on her country or origin.  Here are the previous winners since the race was upgraded to the Golden Shaheen:  2000 – Big Jag (Tim Pinfield), 2001, 2002 – Caller One (James Chapman), 2004 – Our New Recruit (John Sadler), 2005 – Saratoga County (George Weaver), 2006 – Proud Tower Too (Sal Gonzalez), 2007 – Kelly’s Landing (Eddie Kenneally), 2008 – Benny The Bull (Rick Dutrow).