Coach Bob Baffert dominated the US prediction team for the $35.1 million Saudi Cup (G1) show, with national grammar And Taiba won the $20 million Cup and Havnamemeldown And Speedboat Beach for the $1.5 million Saudi Arabia Derby (G3) at one mile.
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia on February 10 announced horses from 16 countries in “fields of possibility” for 16 races spanning the weekend of February 24-25.
Baffert’s were the only Americans to attend the Cup and Derby, although Bill Mott, Steve Asmussen, Chad Summers and Brendan Walsh were represented elsewhere in the rich program at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Baffert and Country Grammer have unfinished business in the 1st 1/8 mile Saudi Cup (G1). The Country Grammer almost won the race in 2022, caught up in the final steps by a locally trained horse, line icon. He shook off that disappointment to win the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) in his next match.
After three finishes in second place, tone artist The horse ended its 5-year-old season with a 4 and a half win at the San Antonio Stakes (G2) in December.
Taiba, son of Dubai World Cup runner-up 2017 gunman won four, three of which were 1st graders, from seven starts at the age of 3 and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Both work well at Santa Anita On February 5, Baffert then texted, “All set for Saudi.” After announcing the expected fields, he said he would not comment further until the horses were safely in King Abdulaziz’s bed.
They face a formidable lineup, including the returning champion Emblem Road. Six out of 14 potential customers are from Japan, among them Cafe Pharoah who twice won the February Bet (G1) on the Tokyo Racecourse; proud crown , the 2022 UAE (G2) Derby winner, who lacked after a suicidal speed challenge in the Kentucky Derby (G1) to finish in 13th place; And Panthalassa temperature winner of the 2020 Dubai Turf (G1), who has not run on dirt track in any of his previous 24 starts.
Dubai-based trainer Bhupat Seemar has regret entered the Saudi Cup with third place in Round 2 of Al Maktoum Challenge (G2) in Meydan
The Arabian Derby featured four entries from Japan, all of which were early contenders for the United States Triple Crown, and two from Uruguay to face six local horses and the Baffert duo.
Havnameltdown, a Florida foal by uncaught , won four of his five starts and finished second in Del Mar Futurity (G1). Speed Boat Beach has won on both grass and dirt, most recently scoring in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) on Del Mar grass on December 4. The Bayern pony late in the Breeders’ Cup Junior Sprint (G1T) to finish ninth.
The $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) at 1,200 meters (about six long distances) attracted three US entries to win the comeback title dancing prince and others in a superpower formation.
Mott participated in Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and defending champion of the Eclipse Prize elite power . Asmussen wins class 1 firearms who started his 2023 season with a win at King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Summer is represented by Meraas winner of the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) at the 2022 Dubai World Cup Masquerade. The second person won an optional claimant at the Dubai World Cup. Aqueduct race track December 30th.
Creed Building was Mott’s hope in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) at 1,351 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs). He finished second in that event in 2022 and won the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga but finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in his most recent start.
Brendan Walsh has a winner for Nearctic Stakes (G2T) cazadero in the same field.
Potential fields can be found online.
