Jesus' Team Trains Under Lights for Dubai World Cup

Five days out from the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), contenders from the United States continued preparations for the $12 million event at Meydan Racecourse, including multiple grade 1-placed Jesus' Team and Razorback Handicap (G3) winner Mystic Guide.

Shortly after 5 a.m. in Dubai Monday, Groupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team took a turn and a half around the Meydan dirt track with his customary draw reins and blinkers applied. Trainer Jose D'Angelo watched from the rail.

"We went to the track with him very early, because I want him to know the lights when we're going to run," D'Angelo said. "It will be his first time running under the lights. 'Jesus' did it perfectly. The horse is 100%. He loves Dubai, the weather, the water, and the environment. I think he's ready with that last work at Palm Meadows over seven furlongs (in 1:31 3/5 March 14) under his belt."

Last year Jesus' Team traveled north from Florida to pick up stakes placings at Monmouth Park, Saratoga Race Course, Pimlico Race Course, and Keeneland. UAE is his farthest destination yet.

"With 'Jesus,' I've learned a lot about traveling all over the United States, especially in the truck," D'Angelo said. "Traveling on an airplane is very different."

At Saratoga, Jesus' Team finished third to Godolphin's Mystic Guide in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). Mystic Guide, trained by Michael Stidham, is a leading contender for the Dubai World Cup off his six-length victory in the Feb. 27 Razorback at Oaklawn Park.

Mystic Guide had an easy morning Monday, one day after blowing out 600 meters (about three furlongs) down the Meydan stretch. He was ridden by William Buick in Sunday's gallop, but will be piloted by Luis Saez in the big race Saturday.

Assistant trainer Ben Trask has been in charge of Mystic Guide's early Dubai prep.

"He just walked and grazed here today," Trask said Monday. "He came out of the work in great shape."

Thumbs Up Racing's multiple graded stakes winner Sleepy Eyes Todd returned to the international quarantine barn in peak order after putting in his final breeze during Monday's second training slot.

"He did a two-minute mile and finished the last half-mile very strongly," trainer Miguel Silva said. "He went beautifully. I really liked it. Today was the last day of working. From now on, we just wait for the big race." 

Sleepy Eyes Todd enters the Dubai World Cup off a fifth-place run in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

"He likes to travel," Silva said. "Alexis Moreno is coming here on Wednesday; he will ride the horse for us on Saturday. (In) nearly every single race, Sleepy Eyes Todd has had a different jockey. We want somebody who knows the horse and how he likes to be ridden. Moreno just won the big race a couple of days ago in Saudi. He's a great jockey."

Charles Fipke's Title Ready continued his preparation with his final pre-race breeze Monday morning. The Dallas Stewart trainee worked 800 meters (about four furlongs) in company with Ambivalent, who is trained by Doug O'Neill and will run in Saturday's UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2).

"We just wanted something easy in 49 or 50 seconds and that's what we got," Stewart assistant Marcelino Jacuinde said of Title Ready. "We just wanted to get some air and get a feel for the track with him. Pedro Velez was on him, who was here the last two times in Dubai, and he rode him last week before we came here.

"I thought he went just the way we wanted. He was nice and easy. We'll walk him tomorrow and come back to the track the next couple days."

Jacuinde came to Dubai with Stewart's two previous Dubai World Cup runners, Forever Unbridled (fifth in 2018) and Seeking the Soul  (eighth in 2019).

Reddam Racing's Ambivalent, who was graded stakes placed as a maiden, enters the UAE Derby off a six-furlong maiden win on turf Feb. 21 at Santa Anita Park. The UAE Derby offers qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

"He's doing very well and we'll try to get the points to be in the Kentucky Derby in the USA," O'Neill's assistant Leandro Mora said. "I think the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16-mile) distance is an advantage for him and will help him. I don't see him as a good sprinter, even though he won last time sprinting."

Reddam and O'Neill will also have Parsimony, a winner of the Curlin Stakes Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City District One at Meydan in February 2020, in the Godolphin Mile (G2). 

Parsimony had a blowout down the lane Monday morning. He was the first horse on the track during the 5 a.m. special training session and breezed solo. Buick will be aboard Saturday.

"He looks really good," Mora said. "Hopefully he will win, but we know he will give us a good race."

Gelfenstein Farm's Avant Garde has also made the trip from the U.S. for the Godolphin Mile.

"He shipped in well. He's in a good mood, showing all the good signs. He seems to like the track," Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to his father, said. "Tomorrow he's going to do a bit more than what you saw today, kind of like an open gallop. That is pretty much what he needs."

Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1) contender Zenden, winner of the Feb. 13 Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, put in a strong but slow gallop over the dirt track at 8 a.m., testing the physical strength of his rider with every stride.

"He's very tough. I don't do bullet works with him. That's why you won't see anything on his work tab and tomorrow we're just going to stretch his legs," trainer Carlos David said. "He's going to back up to past the 200 meter marker, then he's going to turn around and breeze from the 1,600 meter marker to the wire. That would be a mile work. More like a two-minute lick. And he'll pick it up the last 300 meters of the breeze."

R. Larry Johnson's True Valour, second in the Jan. 1 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park, tested the turf track Monday in preparation for the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1). Cat McGee, assistant to Graham Motion, said it was a positive experience.

"He went in :38 between the cones which are set on the outside rail. He seemed to enjoy the turf," McGee said. "He did it within himself and he was feeling good after.

"I was hoping to take him on the turf again for a gallop maybe Thursday. But he will be going around the dirt track the other days."