Weekend Stakes Rundown: Dubai World Cup Night

Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America, and this week we're tossing in the races on Dubai World Cup (G1) card. The stateside slate includes a pair of Triple Crown preps at Turfway Park and Sunland Park. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews are available through the links below.

Saturday, March 25

7:45 a.m.—$1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan Racecourse

Trainer Jorge Navarro's swagger with regards to Sharp Azteca has been building for the better part of a year. The payoff came in the Feb. 11 Hardacre Mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2), when the colt dueled with Blofeld on the front end, then kicked the entire field in the teeth en route to a 4 1/2-length win.

9:25 a.m.—$2 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse

Epicharis was guaranteed a spot at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May by winning the Feb. 19 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse—where he became the top points earner on the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby," but will make one more start before the Run for the Roses in the UAE Derby.

10 a.m.—$1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan Racecourse

Long On Value, trained by Bill Mott, and Richard's Boy, trained by Peter Miller, represent the United States in the six-furlong grass test against some of the best turf sprinters in the world.

10:35 a.m.—$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse

Mind Your Biscuits, Stallwalkin' Dude, and St. Joe Bay will carry the U.S. banner in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) dirt sprint, which pays $1.2 million to the winner and features challengers from Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, and Ireland.

11:30 a.m.—$6 million Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan Racecourse

Ireland's Ballydoyle contingent, from the always dangerous stable of Aidan O' Brien and the Coolmore partners, holds a three-strong hand, led by Deauville, a 4-year-old son of Galileo who is owned in partnership with Mrs. Fitri Hay. In a brief campaign last year, Deauville invaded the U.S. to take the 10-furlong Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) and finish third in the Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes (G1T).

12:05 p.m.—$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan Racecourse

Four of the seven horses entered for the about 12-furlong Sheema Classic are grade/group 1 winners, led by last year's winner Postponed back to defend his title. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 6-year-old son of Dubawi was narrowly beaten in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super Saturday and should have improved for the run as it was his first start since his fifth-place finish in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in October.

12:45 p.m.—$10 Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse

A 10-month rise from allowance winner to world's best handicap horse in training has put Arrogate in the position to become North America's top Thoroughbred earner with a win in the Dubai World Cup. In his last three starts, Arrogate captured the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 28, reeled in champion California Chrome   in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November, and took the Travers Stakes (G1) in August.

5:09 p.m.—$100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway Park

Stonestreet Stables and Fog City Stables' Delphinia will try for a third straight win in the one-mile Bourbonette after securing the first stakes win of her career when she drew off to a seven-length score in the 6 1/2-furlong Cincinnati Trophy Stakes Feb. 4 at Turfway.

5:55 p.m.—$500,000 Spiral Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park

Kitten's Cat, a two-time stakes winner on turf, will try Polytrack for the first time. The Kitten's Joy   colt enters off a runner-up finish in the Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) March 4 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Joe Sharp, after winning the Kitten's Joy Stakes at Gulfstream in February and taking last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes on Breeders' Cup weekend at Santa Anita Park.

6:02 p.m.—$100,000 Skip Away Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park

Zulu made a splash during the 2015-16 championship meet at Gulfstream to establish himself as an exciting Triple Crown prospect with three impressive performances. On Saturday he will seek to recapture the form that earned him the favorite's role in last year's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

7:42 p.m.—$200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park

For some time Ashleyluvssugar has been the top long-distance turf runner in Southern California, but he'll have contend with the last horse who took him down in the division in the San Luis Rey. In their last meeting, Texas Ryano took the Nov. 25 in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) at Del Mar, finishing 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Ashleyluvssugar.

Sunday, March 26

6:18 p.m.—$200,000 Sunland Park Oaks at Sunland Park

Grade 1 winner Noted and Quoted will make her 3-year-old debut for trainer Bob Baffert in the prep for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and will be joined by fellow West Coast shipper What What What and undefeated Ghalia.

7:28 p.m.—$800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park

Judge Lanier Racing's Conquest Mo Money, trained by former jockey Miguel Hernandez, won his first three races—all at Sunland—and will carry the local hopes in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) prep. Taking him on will be top trainers shipping in from seemingly every direction.