Dubai Race Night » Santa Anita

Smiling Tiger second in record-setting Malibu; Twirling Candy possible Dubai World Cup starter

PatCummings — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:43:02 +0000

One of the announced key American hopes for the 2011 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Smiling Tiger was a game second in the Malibu Stakes (G1) on opening day at Santa Anita. Twirling Candy ran down the front-running third from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and won in a final time of 1:19.70 for seven furlongs, breaking a course record set by Spectacular Bid in 1980. Historians beware, however, as Sunday was the first day of a new dirt course making its debut after several years of a synthetic surface. Rain soaked Los Angeles for days in advance of the race and the drying surface provided amazingly fast times all day.

A dearth of pace in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint may have been the death knell for Smiling Tiger in November when third behind lone pacesetter Big Drama, but Sunday’s race, the last Grade 1 of the year for males in America, may have been a touch too long for the colt who opened his career with wins over Tapeta, the same surface in place at Meydan.

Meanwhile, the winner was declared a possible Dubai World Cup starter after the Malibu victory. Stablemate Sidney’s Candy, a winner of the Sir Beaufort (Listed) over one mile on the dirt, could aim for the Godolphin Mile (G2) or Dubai Duty Free (G1).

Watch the Malibu below.

2009 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed beginning long road back, says owner Casner

PatCummings — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:26:11 +0000

Reports published on the Sports Network wire indicate that 2009 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Well Armed has started the long road back to the races following injury, with the goal being a renewed encounter in the world’s richest race.

“Well Armed has been on a program of swimming combined with riding and he has taken everything we have thrown at him,” Casner said. “He looks great and is feeling big. He has always had tremendous grit and the ability to overcome adversity. We look forward to the next chapter of his racing career.”

“The training facility at WinStar is second to none and a great place to set in motion what we eventually hope will be another run at the Dubai World Cup.”

Well Armed’s win in the 2009 Dubai World Cup was the last race held at Nad Al Sheba before racing shifted to Meydan. He was injured in the 2006 UAE Derby (G2) won by Discreet Cat and did not return to racing until October 2007, and was third in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, eight lengths behind Curlin. The winner of the Goodwood (G1) over all-weather at Santa Anita, Well Armed stands to run well on the Tapeta at Meydan.

Click HERE for the full story as linked in the Miami Herald.

Kinsale King to prep over Tapeta for Golden Shaheen

PatCummings — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:28:21 +0000

California-based sprinter Kinsale King will prep for the 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) over one of only two American racecourses using the surface, Golden Gate Fields, outside of San Francisco. The winner of the Vernon Underwood (G3) at Hollywood Park and Palos Verdes (G2) at Santa Anita in his last starts has gained more and more consideration for the race over the last two months.

CLICK HERE for the article from the Daily Racing Form (registration required).

Kinsale King passes test in Palos Verdes; next destination – Dubai Golden Shaheen

PatCummings — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:45:42 +0000

Kinsale King took the Palos Verdes Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Saturday, paving the way for a trip to the 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Trainer Carl O’Callaghan made it known following his colt’s December Vernon Underwood (G3) win, that the Golden Shaheen was a goal. Saturday’s 9-1 upset over Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Dancing In Silks confirmed that.

Settling just off the flank of pacesetting Eaton’s Gift, Kinsale King struck the lead with two furlongs to run and dug in gamely to hold off Ventana and the top-weighted Dancing In Silks. The final time of 1:08.81 was incredibly fast over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride, which hadn’t been used for a week following torrential California rains. Martin Garcia had the winning ride.

Click HERE for the full article from Thoroughbred Times.

Papa Clem’s short-lived Dubai World Cup hopes dashed with ankle injury; retirement pending

PatCummings — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:29:05 +0000

Trainer Gary Stute seemed excited about the prospects of coming to Dubai with a contender for the 2010 Dubai World Cup (G1). Instead, he will remain in California with his stable and the thoughts of what could have been. Papa Clem, winner of the 2009 Arkansas Derby (G2) and recent winner of the San Fernando Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, was retired following an ankle injury, according to a Throughbred Times report today. Speaking to the Daily Racing Form after the San Fernando win, Stute cautioned: “I’m just hoping to get through the next one.”

There won’t be a “next one.” Papa Clem was offered at 25-1 in the ante-post wagering set by Coral this week.

Click HERE to visit the Thoroughbred Times.

Zenyatta 2010 Dubai World Cup? Possible.

PatCummings — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:23:15 +0000

Could the American wonder mare Zenyatta make a trip to the 2010 Dubai World Cup? She’s retired no more, so said owner Jerry Moss on Saturday from California. The first mare to defeat the boys in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Zenyatta is a perfect 14-for-14, and in a close race for the 2009 American Horse of the Year Eclipse Award with 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra. While famed Santa Anita and troubled Hollywood Park have both feted the unbeaten sensation with retirement parties, trainer John Shirreffs never took her out of training, and a 2010 campaign awaits.

Could Zenyatta run in the 2010 Dubai World Cup? Sure. Is it likely? Maybe not. A comeback race has not been officially named and just about anything is possible.

Click HERE for more from the Daily Racing Form.

2009 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed won’t return until summer; Papa Clem possible in 2010

PatCummings — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:41:46 +0000

The winner of the 2009 Dubai World Cup, the last run at Nad Al Sheba, Well Armed is not due back to the races until the summer, trainer Eoin Harty told the Daily Racing Form. A 7-year-old gelding by Tiznow, Well Armed’s career has seen its share of long layoffs. Injured in the 2006 UAE Derby (G2), Well Armed did not get back to the races until October 2007, then rested for three months leading up to a campaign that took him to Dubai. He made one start this summer at Del Mar before a bone chip sidelined the big earner.

Also in the same DRF article, California based trainer Gary Stute indicated that he hopes to get his colt, Papa Clem, eligible for the Dubai World Cup with some improved performances at Santa Anita. Saturday’s $150,000 San Fernando offers a possible stepping stone for the winner of the 2009 Arkansas Derby (G2).

Click HERE for the full article.

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.

Ajtebi training in US for six weeks

PatCummings — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:11:03 +0000

Following this weekend’s jockey challenge in Mauritius, UAE jockey Ahmed Ajtebi will head to California for six weeks and work under Dubai World Cup winning trainer Eoin Harty according to a report in today’s Racing Post.

Ajtebi will be back in Dubai for the start of the Dubai International Racing Carnival on 28 January. In his first mount in the United States, Ajtebi shocked when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) aboard Vale of York at Santa Anita.

Click HERE to read the full story