Today we're serving breakfast in the desert for the 21st year with 2017 edition of the Dubai World Cup card from the crown jewel of racing in the Middle East at Meydan Racecourse. This annual event the final Saturday in March marks my unofficial end of the winter racing season. The Dubai World Cup going a mile and a quarter on dirt, was the world's richest race until this year when the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park back in January surpassed it. From Cigar in the inaugural running back 1996, to California Chrome last year, American based runners have dominated this race. Today, one of the brightest American stars, who wasn't even on the map a year ago goes for the glory today to add his name to this historic list of champions in the desert.
Arrogate (#9) trained by Bob Baffert became a superstar last summer at Saratoga with a record setting victory in the Travers Stakes. He followed that up with a dominate victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic and a few week's ago winning the first edition of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Three straight grade I wins and today shows his talent overseas against the best in the world. All indications point to him as the odds-on favorite once again to find the winners circle in fantastic fashion. On pure talent, Arrogate is head and shoulders over the thirteen other runners his faces today. The question is; who for value purposes do you use underneath the phenom?
Awardee (#7) hails from Japan and has been a proven runner at this distance on dirt with three victories in 12 starts and five other times in the money. In his last eight starts, he has been no worst than second, all in stakes. He is listed at 30-1 on the morning line and looks like a solid runner up horse to use at a price.
Gun Runner (#5) was the second best three year old last year when the dust settled. Other than his effort on a sloppy track in the Haskell Stakes, he has been a gem of consistency. The only real stumbling block for him is the distance, a mile and a quarter. Winless in two tries at this distance, other than that he figures a contender off his sharp form he has shown.
Others that you can use underneath my top three selections are; Hoppertunity (#12) who always figures to land a piece, Special Fighter (#13) who was fourth in this race last year and makes his second start off that layoff & Mubtaahij (#14) who won the UAE Derby two years ago at this distance. Numbers for this year's Dubai World Cup : 9-7-5 with 12-13-14 in your superfectas.
Here are my selections for the remainder of the Dubai World Cup stakes card;
Godolphin Mile (1st) : 7-6-8-10 / Dubai Gold Cup (3rd) : 6-3-12-1 / UAE Derby (4th) : 13-6-3-15 / Al Quoz Sprint (5th) : 7-6-11-9 / Dubai Golden Shaheen (6th) : 11-14-1-12 / Dubai Turf (7th) : 1-4-12-10 / Dubai Sheema Classic (8th) : 7-3-5-6.
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