Summers After More Desert Success in Riyadh Dirt Sprint

Chad Summers is looking for more Middle Eastern sprint success.

The New York-based trainer, who won the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in 2017-18 in Dubai at Meydan Racecourse with New York-bred Mind Your Biscuits , has Maitha Salem Mohammed Belobaida Alsuwaidi's Meraas  racing in the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) Feb. 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The 1,200-meter test (about six furlongs) is on the Saudi Cup (G1) undercard .

A group 3 winner at Meydan last February for his former conditioner Musabbeh Al Mheiri, Meraas made three NYRA circuit starts for Summers in 2022, led by a frontrunning allowance optional claiming score with Abner Adorno up Dec. 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack that garnered a 109 Equibase Speed Figure. 

That effort followed a third-place finish in September at Saratoga in his North American debut, a six-furlong optional claimer won by returning rival and eventual champion Elite Power , and a troubled off-the-board effort in the Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) in October at Aqueduct.

Meraas faces a stiff test Saturday against a field that, besides Elite Power, further includes defending race winner Dancing Prince from Japan, and Gunite , who won the 2021 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Summers said Saturday's test is reminiscent of the 2018 Golden Shaheen in which Joel Rosario guided Mind Your Biscuits to a rallying head score over X Y Jet  in a track record time of 1:10.12. Roy H , winner of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), finished less than a length back in third, with multiple grade 1 winner Wild Dude  fourth and the well-regarded Japan-based Matera Sky  finishing fifth.

"It feels very similar to the 2018 Golden Shaheen with a Breeders' Cup winner, a fast American horse coming off a huge speed figure, and top Japanese horses," Summers said. "So, not necessarily a position we haven't been in before."

Nor is Meraas new to racing in a Middle Eastern racing environment.

"He shipped over well," said Summers via phone from Saudi Arabia. "He has plenty of experience traveling before and has really blossomed since arriving. He had his final piece of work on Monday over the main track and was striding out beautifully. He's giving us a lot of confidence he will take to this deep track here in Saudi."

Summers said Meraas should benefit from his post 6 draw with his main North American rivals to his inside and Dancing Prince in the next stall over.

"We love the draw. The gates here are really narrow. So, the less time in there, the better," Summers said. "Dancing Prince we feel is the other main speed and he is drawn just to the outside. So, we can play the break and if we outbreak him, we go. If he outbreaks us, we will sit on his hip. I would imagine Gunite will try and work out a stalking trip from his inside draw, but may have to deal with significant kickback down in there. We will watch the races Friday and first part of Saturday and make final plans, but overall we're very happy with the draw."

The Riyadh Dirt Sprint is slated as the seventh race at approximately 11:45 a.m. ET. The Saudi Cup card will be broadcast live from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. ET on FS2.