Dubai Race Night » Monmouth Park

Force Freeze prepping for Breeders’ Cup at Belmont

PatCummings — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:51:40 +0000

After spending the majority of his career in the UAE under the watchful eye of Doug Watson, Force Freeze hopes to make the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) after a return to North America, dirt, and Lasix. Winning the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth Park in his first start since the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Force Freeze has been prepped by new trainer Peter Walder for Saturday’s Vosburgh (G1) at Belmont Park in advance of the $2 million event. The Daily Racing Form has more.

Presious Passion makes all in Sheema Classic prep

PatCummings — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:26:43 +0000

Second in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), Presious Passion is on to the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) after making all the running in the 11-furlong Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park, winning by an extended length. Trained by Mary Hartmann, Presious Passion could be an interesting sight on the Meydan turf course as he often opens monstrous front-running gaps on the rest of the field and hopes his speed carries. A 7-year-old gelding by Royal Anthem, Presious Passion’s win was his 14th from 44 lifetime starts and pushed career earnings to more than $2.65 million. Presious Passion is a multiple-G1 winner, most recently landing the Clement L Hirsch (G1) at Santa Anita and the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park.

“I was a little anxious in deep-stretch, to have him pull off farther, but that was to make me breath easier,” Hartmann told Gulfstream Park’s Caton Bredar. “I think he is bigger and stronger this year. Dubai is the plan from here.” Presious Passion will be partnered, as always, by jockey Elvis Trujillo.

Redding Colliery makes American debut Sunday

PatCummings — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:55:01 +0000

Regular readers of DubaiRaceNight.com will recall my fond price searching during the Dubai International Racing Carnival and Redding Colliery, a sophomore colt who ran into the Desert Party/Regal Ransom buzz saw three times this winter, caught my eye often. While seeking some value against the shorter prices, I selected Redding Colliery twice this winter and he didn’t entirely disappoint with third place finishes behind the Godolphin pair.

Now, the son of Mineshaft out of the Zilzal mare, Joop, is in training with Kiaran McLaughlin and is entered in Sunday’s third race at Saratoga over seven furlongs. His morning trackwork has been quite impressive and he will be medicated with Lasix for his American debut; Rajiv Maragh rides.

ASIATIC BOY SCRATCHED

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Asiatic Boy was scratched from Saturday’s Whitney at Saratoga due to spiking a temperature the morning of the race. 18-1 shot Bullsbay was an upset winner in the race and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported that otherwise, the 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner was in fine fettle.

GLORIA DE CAMPEAO UNPLACED IN ARLINGTON MILLION

Second home in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and the narrow winner of the Singapore International Cup (G1) was a dull seventh in the Arlington Million (G1) on Saturday afternoon. Ridden once again by T.J. Pereira, Gloria De Campeao settled second, well behind the runaway pacesetter Presious Passion, and faded turning for home over a tiring course rated yielding.

BRAVE TIN SOLDIER WINS

Kiaran McLaughlin is in the news once again as Brave Tin Soldier landed his first American victory on Saturday at Monmouth Park in a one mile turf contest. The race was run under incredibly fast conditions with Brave Tin Soldier running from well off the pace to win at 4-1, marking his first turf victory since his maiden win at Naas in 2006. Saturday’s victory was the second for Brave Tin Soldier in 2009, having landed a win on New Year’s Day at Nad Al Sheba during the Winter Racing Challenge. Carlos Marquez Jr. had the winning ride over a course rated firm. The final time was one second off the course record.

Could Presious Passion replicate Gladiatorus?

PatCummings — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:44:08 +0000

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.

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.