After three months of usual winter weather, we have turned the corner to spring and the "official" first BIG weekend of thoroughbred racing. It gets a early start this morning with eight races across the sea from the desert sands of Dubai and it's presentation of the World Cup card. Later on this afternoon at Gulfstream Park , the biggest three year old prep race in Florida will be run in the Florida Derby , featuring division leader; Union Rags and tomorrow; the best from the Cajun state run at the Fairgrounds in the Louisiana Derby in a wide open field. More on the results of those two races next week. But today, we look thoroughbred racing's richest card. Top quality racing is now in full force, around the world!
As I said, things start early at 9:10am with the Godolphin Mile. Fourteen runners are entered and my selections for this race are : African Story (#4) & Western Aristocrat (#8) a stakes winner at Belmont Park on the grass last fall. My exotic horses underneath my top two picks are: Do It All (#11) Snaafy (#12) & Red Jazz (9th). The Dubai Gold Cup is at the marathon distance of 2 miles on the grass. Opinion Poll (#10) and Fox Hunt (#11) ran one / two in their mile and three quarter prep race for this event. I'll take these two in my exacta with Kasbah Bliss (#13) Barbican (#2) & Zanzamar (#12) underneath.
The UAE Derby is for three year olds and South American bred four year old runners going a mile and three sixteenths. I'm going from the rail with the American runner; Lucky Chappy (#1) who was last seen running 2nd behind Daddy Nose Best in the El Camino Real Derby and who won the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park this past weekend. For second, I'll be using Canadian invader; Maritimer (#3) a two year old stakes winner at Woodbine last Fall. Wrote (#13) won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf, Falls of Lorna (#10) won the UAE Oaks last time out at this distance and with Kinglet (#9) are the choices to use underneath my two top picks. A turf sprint is up next in the Al Qouz at five furlongs. In the most wide open race on the World Cup card, my top pick is a 20-1 morning line favorite. Addictive Dream (#2) who won two races turf sprinting in January before his last start on the polytrack track here. The price is right with lukewarm morning line favorite (4-1) Joy and Fun (#6) in my runner-up position. My superfecta add in's are: Nocturnal Affair (#5) Regally Ready (#3) & August Rush (#8).
We continue sprinting, but back on the main track and going six furlongs in the Golden Shaheen Stakes. The Factor (#7) is my speedy top pick here with a definite class edge versus this group. Krypton Factor (#5) has been razor sharp in three starts here and contains valve at 10-1. Underneath these two, are: Rocket Man (#1) Giant Ryan (#3) & Hitchens (#6). The Dubai Duty Free is one of the two big turf races on the World Cup card and at the shorter distance of a mile and an eighth. Await the Dawn (#2) was my second choice this past Fall in the Breeder's Cup Turf, he showed speed going longer that day and comes off that race for today's effort. Ambitious Dragon (#4) has raced 13 times first or second in 17 lifetime starts coming in from Hong Kong . Underneath these two will be : Musir (#5) Dark Shadow (#7) & City Style (#13).
The five million dollar Dubai Sheema Classic is one of the richest turf races in the world. Songcraft (#1) faced stakes competition for the first time in last start and finished third, previously was undefeated and gets the call here at the 8-1 morning line. Runner-up for me is the Breeder's Cup Turf winner; St. Nicholas Abbey (#9) who upset in that race at 6-1 and may need a race off that effort. Treasure Beach (#6) and the undefeated; Beaten Up (#3) round out my exotic plays here.
The Dubai World Cup is the crown jewel of today's recorded breaking events. The 17th edition of this race has become a world event and will be contested for a second straight year at Meydan Racecourse which has a synthetic polytrack surface. In this field of 14, the American runners get the edge. But, the morning line favorite; Game on Dude (#14) has to negotiate the far outside post, so he'll be my 2nd choice. For the top spot, I'm going with the American filly; Royal Delta (#7) who faces the colts for the first time and tries the polytrack for only a second time. She has a bullet work for today's race and is 8-1 on the morning line. Underneath these two classy American's I'll use : Smart Falcon (#5) , last year's runner-up Transend (#10) and local winner; Capponi (#11).
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