Horse Racing
Saudi Cup card: See previews, free PPs for 6 graded stakes
Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio held firm as the
3-1 favorite in international betting ahead of Saturday’s Grade 1, $20 million
Saudi Cup, the fifth annual edition of the world’s richest horse race.
A 1 1/8-mile dirt race around one turn, the Saudi Cup at 12:40 p.m. EST is the last of nine races on the King Abdulaziz Racecourse card Saturday. The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia forecast a partly cloudy day with a high of 89 degrees dropping to 81 overnight.
The Saudi Cup card will be shown live on FS2 with the telecast running Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
International fields can be tough to handicap with no easy way to compare horses from different continents. The Super Screener has analysis you can use to cut through the noise and zero-in on those runners with a real chance at the money. Get the Super Screener for proven, trusted insights into the Saudi Cup and for the Rebel Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Derby trail. It is available now plus valuable bonus handicapping resources for every track every day.
Early races were delayed as much as a half-hour, according to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, to accommodate the late arrival of members of the royal family.
Dutrow plans unusual day for White Abarrio
Trainer Rick Dutrow said Wednesday he planned to take the
unusual step of breezing the 5-year-old horse on race day.
“I feel by not breezing him, it gives him more steam,” he told
reporters in Riyadh. “We do plan on breezing him that day that he is in. I know
the dirt track is closed, but we did take him to the training track twice to
jog him. … On Saturday we are going to blow him out through the lane there.”
Japan entrants Derma Sotogake, who finished second to White
Abarrio in the Breeders’ Cup, and Lemon Pop, the winner nearly three months ago
of the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo, were 11-2 early Saturday, according to Racing
Post’s survey of the best odds in Great Britain and Ireland. Wagering is
illegal in Saudi Arabia.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Carmel Road Quality Road |
5.95 | 25-1 | |||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Crown Pride Reach the Crown |
6.71 | 30-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Defunded Dialed In |
6.58 | 25-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Derma Sotogake Mind Your Biscuits |
7.09 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Hoist the Gold Mineshaft |
6.55 | 40-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Isolate Mark Valeski |
5.94 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Lemon Pop Lemon Drop Kid |
6.27 | 5-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
National Treasure Quality Road |
6.77 | 8-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Power In Numbers Girvin |
5.89 | 50-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Saudi Crown Always Dreaming |
6.67 | 15-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Senor Buscador Mineshaft |
6.21 | 15-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
Ushba Tesoro Orfevre |
7.65 | 8-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 14 |
|
White Abarrio Race Day |
7.96 | 3-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 15 |
|
Scotland Yard Quality Road |
0.00 | 40-1 | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
Forever Young is Saudi
Derby favorite
With three wins in his first three starts, Forever Young from
Japan was the early 4-5 favorite Saturday for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3),
a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds racing on Riyadh’s dirt track.
If all goes well Saturday, connections are expected to aim
the Real Steel colt to the UAE Derby (G2), a practical win-and-you’re-in qualifier March
23 for Kentucky Derby 2024.
The same may apply to Book’em Danno, the colt who Derek Ryan
trained to victory last month in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. He was
the 5-1 second choice in early wagering.
The Saudi Derby is the first of the six graded stakes on Saturday’s
program. It is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. EST.
America vs. Japan in Dirt Sprint
With Grade 3 wins in Japan and South Korea, 5-year-old
Remake was the 2-1 favorite Saturday morning for the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt
Sprint (G3), a one-turn, six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up.
Most recently the runner-up in a second-level race nearly
three months ago in Japan, the son of Lani faces the challenge among others of
U.S. 5-year-olds Skelly and Bold Journey.
Skelly, who was 4-1 early Saturday, won three weeks ago for
trainer Steve Asmussen in the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn. Bold Journey, who
was 8-1, finished first in two stakes in his last two starts at Aqueduct for
Bill Mott.
The Riyadh Dirt Sprint is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Alfaisaleyah Rajasinghe |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 2 |
|
Bakeel Sioux Nation |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Bold Journey Hard Spun |
5.55 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Cairama Cairo Prince |
5.62 |
4th, OP AOC (05/05/2023-R6) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race |
4th, OP AOC (05/05/2023-R6) |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Jasper Krone Frosted |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Keiai Dorie Espoir City |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 7 |
|
Power Of Beauty Slade Power |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Rebellious Stage Justify |
0.00 |
4th, LRL AOC (07/02/2023-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race |
4th, LRL AOC (07/02/2023-R7) |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Remake Lani |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Skelly Practical Joke |
4.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Sunset Flash Mayson |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Tuz Oxbow |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
Appleby has favorite in
Turf Sprint
Mysterious Night, a 4-year-old gelding bred and owned by
Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, was 11-4 early Saturday in Europe
betting for the 1351 Turf Sprint, a one-turn race covering about 6 3/4 furlongs.
After he won the 2022 Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine, Mysterious
Night went into a slump that included his seventh-place finish in the August running
of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga.
Last fall Appleby sent the son of Dark Angel to the Middle
East. Mysterious Night responded with two wins in his first two starts of 2024.
Last month he delivered in a Group 2 race at Meydan.
The 1351 Turf Sprint is 1,351 meters in honor of the year on
the Islamic calendar when the current kingdom was established in Saudi Arabia.
It translates to 1932 on the Gregorian calendar.
The race is scheduled to start at 10:25 a.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Aguri Caravaggio |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Annaf Muhaarar |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Art Power Dark Angel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Bathrat Leon Kizuna |
6.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Byline Muhaarar |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Cold Front Lope de Vega |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Dr Zempf Dark Angel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Jumby New Bay |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
King Gold Anodin |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Mysterious Night Dark Angel |
6.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Raaed Dark Angel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Win Greatest Screen Hero |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
La La Christine Mikki Isle |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 14 |
|
Matilda Picotte Sioux Nation |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
Luxembourg stays on grass
for Neom
With a long-range view toward the Breeders’ Cup, trainer
Aidan O’Brien said he still wants to move Luxembourg to the dirt. He even was
tempted to do so for this weekend’s Saudi Cup.
Instead, the 5-year-old who has won three Group 1 races will
be on more familiar ground Saturday as the 5-4 favorite in the $2,000,000 Neom
Turf Cup (G2), a two-turn race for older horses covering 1 5/16 miles.
Grocer Jack, a 25-1 long shot in the 13-horse field, is
trained by Jimmy Jerkens. The longtime New York horsemen is in the middle of a
two-year contract to train for Saudi Arabia prince Faisal bin Khalid.
The Neom Turf Cup, the seventh race Saturday, starts at
11:10 a.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Alooqaal Zoffany |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 2 |
|
Astro King Kingman |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Bolthole Free Eagle |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Calif Areion |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Grocer Jack Oasis Dream |
6.37 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Hearts Concerto Heart’s Cry |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 7 |
|
Jack Darcy Gleneagles |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Killer Ability Deep Impact |
5.39 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Luxembourg Camelot |
8.08 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Spirit Dancer Frankel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Starcat Lope de Vega |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Studley Harbinger |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
The Foxes Churchill |
6.86 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
There is no clear favorite
in Red Sea
Two-time Ireland handicap winner Tower of London, a
4-year-old Galileo colt trained by O’Brien, was a lukewarm 4-1 favorite for the
$2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) for older horses going 1 7/8 miles.
Godolphin-bred 6-year-old gelding Al Nayyir, who splits his
time between France and Dubai, was 6-1. Iron Barows, a 7-year-old entire who
was a surprising Grade 2 winner nearly three months ago in Japan, was 8-1.
Giavellotto, a 5-year-old horse who upset last year’s Yorkshire Cup (G2) in
England, was 9-1.
Jerkens will saddle First Minister, another 4-year-old
Galileo colt who was a Group 3 winner last year in France for legendary trainer
André Fabre.
The Red Sea is posted for 11:50 a.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Giavellotto Mastercraftsman |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Breakup Novellist |
6.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Iron Barows Orfevre |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Echt Rulership |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Al Nayyir Dubawi |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Big Call Animal Kingdom |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Libyan Glass Kizuna |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 8 |
|
Skazino Kendargent |
4.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Enemy Muhaarar |
4.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Roberto Escobarr Galileo |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Tower Of London Galileo |
5.55 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Diva Donna Cima De Triomphe |
6.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
First Minister Galileo |
6.09 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
| 14 |
|
Pin Your Hopes Rock of Gibraltar |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race |
||||||
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