Mshawish Bound for Belmont, Summer Campaign

Al Shaqab Racing's grade I winner Mshawish, who returns to the U.S. March 31 on the same flight as Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner California Chrome   and Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) runner-up X Y Jet, will get a freshening at Belmont Park with trainer Todd Pletcher before turning to a summer campaign.

Bradley Weisbord, U.S. racing manager for Al Shaqab, said the 6-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   runner exited a sixth-place finish in the World Cup—his first trip going 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) since 2013—in good order.

"He appears to have come out well," Weisbord said. "He has been non-stop since Saratoga, running in the Breeders' Cup, running all winter, and now to Dubai. We plan to give him a freshening, but since he is an older horse and loves his job, we will send him right to Belmont Park to Todd."

The Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner could target a race at Saratoga Race Course this summer with eyes on the Breeders' Cup run his connections have planned. He is set to retire to stud at Taylor Made Farm at the end of his racing career. 

"He will have a full set of diagnostics, and if OK, will target a race this summer with Breeders' Cup as our goal," Weisbord said. "All races from seven to 10 furlongs are possible (for the summer race). It will be a grade I on dirt."