Havnameltdown, Top Japanese Colts in Saudi Derby Field

The $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) attracted only one American colt, albeit a top one in Havnameltdown , but also got the winners of the first two legs of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby as part of a diverse, 13-horse field.

The 1,600-meter (about one mile) race around one turn at King Abdulaziz Racecourse also has a pair of South Americans as well as a crowd of local runners.

Havnameltdown, an Uncaptured  colt trained by Bob Baffert, is 4-for-5 coming into the Saudi Derby. The victories include the Best Pal Stakes (G3) and Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in his 3-year-old debut.

Baffert-trained horses finished 1-2-3 in the San Vicente with Havnameltdown leading all the way under Juan Hernandez. Frankie Dettori takes over the riding chores in Riyadh and starts from the cozy gate 6.

"He's a fast horse," Baffert said. "He's in good form right now. We feel we have a good chance...But when you ship that far, it's always a question mark."

Should he run well and come out of the race okay, Baffert said, Havnameltdown would be a candidate to go on to the U.A.E. Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse a month down the road.

Baffert also entered Speed Boat Beach  for the Saudi Derby but that one did not make the trip.

"I just felt more comfortable sending one of them," he said.

The top Japanese-trained colts have been pointed to this race since last year.

Continuar , a Drefong  colt, has two wins and a second from three starts but has not raced since winning the first leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse in November. Derma Sotogake , by Mind Your Biscuits , took the second leg, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse in December and is 3-for-4 since switching to dirt.

Connections of both said the Saudi Derby was their first priority after those wins with the Kentucky Derby (G1) a consideration down the road. Both are early nominees for the U.S. Triple Crown.

The Japanese team also includes two trained by the in-form Hideyuki Mori—Ecoro Ares and From Dusk. Neither has yet made much of an impact.

South America is represented by Es-Unico, a War Secretary  colt who exits a second-place finish in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas Trial in Dubai, and Loreley, a Kentuckian  colt who was sixth in the same race.

Joao Moreira takes the mount on Es-Unico for trainer Antonio Cintra while Hector Lazo copes with the rail draw aboard Loreley.

My Map, a Liam's Map   colt, tops the local brigade. He's undefeated after four starts and most recently took out the Saudi Derby Qualifier over course and distance Jan. 27. Commissioner King, a Commissioner  colt, exits a win in the Ministry of National Guard Cup, a local group 3 race.