Mubtaahij Moves to Baffert Barn in Southern California
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Mubtaahij relocated to the West Coast last month
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's group 2 winner Mubtaahij has relocated to Southern California and is now under the care of trainer Bob Baffert.
The 2015 UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) winner and 2016 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) runner-up logged his first work for Baffert July 5 at Los Alamitos Race Course, where he covered three furlongs in :36 3/5.
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"(We don't have) immediate plans," Baffert said. "(He) just came in last month."
The Irish-bred, 5-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) last raced March 25, when he came in fourth in his second Dubai World Cup try. Ten of his 17 starts have been at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, where he was trained by Michael F. de Kock. Mubtaahij might be unfamiliar with Southern California, but has spent plenty of time in the United States.
After his 2016 Dubai World Cup run, Mubtaahij set up shop in New York with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and ran in three graded stakes. In between a third in the Suburban Handicap (G2) and a fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Mubtaahij just missed by a head behind Shaman Ghost in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The Woodward runner-up effort was Mubtaahij's fourth graded/group placing, but he's still seeking his first victory since the 2015 UAE Derby. He's winless in his last 10 starts, which include an eighth-place finish in the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and a fourth-place result in the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (G1).