Mubtaahij Works Three Furlongs at Arlington
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Preparing for a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 2 at Churchill Downs, Mubtaahij breezed three furlongs in :36 1/5 Tuesday, April 21 at Arlington Park.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Mubtaahij will enter the Derby off an eight-length romp in the U.A.E. Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (UAE-II) March 28 at Meydan. The Kentucky Derby will mark the first U.S. start for the son of Dubawi.
Mubtaahij has trained on synthetic surfaces throughout his career, which includes three wins from four races on dirt. South African-based trainer Mike de Kock, who will saddle a horse in the Derby for the first time, shipped Mubtaahij to Arlington to take advantage of the Polytrack surface there before the colt is shipped to Churchill.
On Tuesday with regular exercise rider Lisa Moncrieff aboard, Mubtaahij cantered one lap with stablemate Umgiyo and then broke off at the half-mile pole. Mubtaahij's three-furlong breeze was the only move at the distance Tuesday at Arlington.
"Everything went exactly as planned," said de Kock assistant Trevor Brown after Tuesday's drill. Mubtaahij is scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs in the evening Monday, April 27.