Graded Stakes Stretch Over 12 Hours Saturday
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Photo: Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Almond Eye is one of the stars scheduled to race March 30 at Meydan
Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse will provide a one-stop guide to the day's top stakes races in North America and beyond. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). For full BloodHorse preview, click the link.
Saturday March 30
8:15 a.m.—$1.5 million Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One (G2) at Meydan (TVG)
Perhaps the greatest threat to expected favorite Muntazah could be Todd Pletcher-trained Coal Front, a multiple graded stakes winner who will try to muddy the waters for the locals, but has to overcome the outside draw of 12 to make it an American victory.
8:50 a.m.—$1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) at Meydan (TVG)
The Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin pair of Cross Counter and Ispolini are attracting all the attention in the Dubai Gold Cup. Cross Counter provided the Godolphin trainer with one of his most memorable victories last season when he won the Melbourne Cup (G1). Trainer John Sadler will be represented in the race with graded stakes winner Platinum Warrior.
9:30 a.m.—$2 million Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) at Meydan (TVG)
Stormy Liberal, the reigning champion turf male, aims to avenge his defeat in this race one year ago but faces a stiff challenge from the likes of stablemate Belvoir Bay, graded stakes winner Caribou Club, and Godolphin runner Blue Point.
Divine Image is bidding to become only the second filly to lift the race that two years ago produced 2018 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the daughter of Scat Daddy has been victorious in her past two starts at Meydan and produced an impressive performance when she burst clear by 7 1/4 lengths, beating the boys in the Al Bastakiya three weeks ago.
10:40 a.m.—$2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) Sponsored by Gulf News at Meydan (TVG)
The Dubai Golden Shaheen is set to be a clash of sprint titans, with a U.S. attack headlining the field. Imperial Hint has returned after making the initial trip two years ago, when he was unable to take his shot at the riches due to illness. X Y Jet plans to cause some turbulence, with the son of Kantharos lining up in the Dubai Golden Shaheen for a third time while grade 1 winner Promises Fulfilled makes his 4-year-old seasonal bow on the world's richest night.
11:20 a.m.—$6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan (TVG)
There are few hotter properties in world racing right now than super filly Almond Eye, who has her first test outside her native Japan in a great renewal of Saturday's Dubai Turf, featuring a truly international 13-strong field. Having won all three legs of the Filly Triple Crown and the Japan Cup (G1), it was little wonder that the daughter of Lord Kanaloa was named the Japan's 2018 Horse of the Year.
12 p.m.—$6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan (TVG)
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Magic Wand comes in off a second-place finish to Bricks and Mortar in the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 26 while Desert Encounter won the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1) at Woodbine last October.
12:40 p.m.—$12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan (TVG)
Godolphin's popular Thunder Snow is certainly the standard in the race as he bids to become the first two-time winner one year after becoming the first UAE Derby victor to pull off that double. Without a win since his tour-de-force last year, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee has accounted well for himself, including a second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Bookending Thunder Snow in second and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic were Gunnevera and Yoshida, who bring ample class into a deep field. Gunnevera hopes to finally break through at the top level as he was last seen disappointing in sixth in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on—a race in which fellow entrants, Seeking the Soul and Audible, finished second and fifth.
1:00 p.m.—$300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) at Gulfstream Park (TVG)
Five weeks after an impressive victory in the Hal's Hope (G3), Prince Lucky returns Saturday to Gulfstream Park for trainer Todd Pletcher and is expected to be the favorite in the Gulfstream Park Mile, one of seven stakes (four graded) on the Florida Derby Day program.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 4Entries: Gulfstream Park Mile S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Tale of Silence (KY)
Manuel Franco
118
Barclay Tagg
7/2
2
2Millionaire Runner (KY)
Leonel Reyes
118
Jaime Mejia
30/1
3
3Be Gone Daddy (ON)
Luis Saez
118
Marcus J. Vitali
9/2
4
4Prince Lucky (PA)
John R. Velazquez
124
Todd A. Pletcher
2/5
5
5All Golden (KY)
Marcos Meneses
118
Jaime Mejia
99/1
6
6Guy Caballero (ON)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
12/1
3 p.m.—$250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park (TVG)
Arindel's multiple stakes-winning homebred Cookie Dough, overlooked making her first start in 22 weeks last month, figures to garner plenty of attention as she goes after her first career graded triumph over her home course in Saturday's 1 1/16-miles Gulfstream Park Oaks.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 8Entries: Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Safta (KY)
Manuel Franco
122
Dermot Magner
20/1
2
2Shacklette (KY)
Nik Juarez
122
Dale L. Romans
20/1
3
3Point of Honor (KY)
Javier Castellano
122
George Weaver
9/5
4
4Bella Ciao (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Antonio Sano
15/1
5
5Champagne Anyone (KY)
Chris Landeros
122
Ian R. Wilkes
6/1
6
6Dunbar Road (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Chad C. Brown
8/5
7
7Cookie Dough (FL)
Jeffrey Sanchez
122
Stanley I. Gold
7/2
6 p.m.—$250,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park (TVG)
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled Hi Happy to victory in last year's Pan American, will send out Village King, a 5-year-old who won the Red Smith Stakes last Nov. 17 at Aqueduct.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 13Entries: Pan American S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Focus Group (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Chad C. Brown
4/1
2
2Melmich (ON)
Javier Castellano
120
Kevin Attard
6/1
3
3Village King (ARG)
John R. Velazquez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
8/1
4
4Canessar (FR)
Feargal Lynch
120
Arnaud Delacour
7/2
5
5Nessy (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Ian R. Wilkes
20/1
6
6Highland Sky (KY)
Manuel Franco
120
Barclay Tagg
12/1
7
7Salute the Colonel (FL)
Luis Saez
118
Joseph F. Orseno
15/1
8
8Soglio (KY)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
118
Michael J. Maker
3/1
9
9Bigger Picture (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
124
Michael J. Maker
6/1
6:17 p.m.—$400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Although he was the beaten favorite in his most recent start, River Boyne, who has won six out of his seven career turf starts at Santa Anita, will vie for favoritism in Saturday's Frank E. Kilroe Mile with Kentucky-bred Catapult, who should relish a return to firm ground for John Sadler.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 5Entries: Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. (G1T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Hunt (IRE)
Brice Blanc
120
Philip D'Amato
8/1
2
2Ohio (BRZ)
Ruben Fuentes
120
Michael W. McCarthy
6/1
3
3Desert Stone (IRE)
Geovanni Franco
120
Richard Baltas
8/1
4
4Catapult (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
122
John W. Sadler
8/5
5
5Next Shares (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
124
Richard Baltas
3/1
6
6River Boyne (IRE)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Jeff Mullins
5/2
6:36 p.m.—$1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park (NBCSN and TVG)
W. S. Farish's Code of Honor lived up to the expectations he generated during his 2-year-old campaign when the Shug McGaughey-trained colt rallied to win the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 2. The 3-year-old son of Noble Mission is set for a return in Saturday's Florida Derby.
Juddmonte Farm's Hidden Scroll was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after drawing the No. 1 post position. Hidden Scroll, whose heated pace battle with longshot Gladiator King aided the stretch kicks of Code of Honor and Bourbon War, will make his third career start in the Florida Derby.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 14Entries: Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Hidden Scroll (KY)
Javier Castellano
122
William I. Mott
5/2
2
2Current (KY)
Manuel Franco
122
Todd A. Pletcher
15/1
3
3Harvey Wallbanger (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
122
Kenneth G. McPeek
15/1
4
4Bourbon War (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Mark A. Hennig
7/2
5
5Everfast (KY)
Chris Landeros
122
Dale L. Romans
20/1
6
6Hard Belle (KY)
Jose A. Batista
122
Jaime Mejia
50/1
7
7Maximum Security (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Jason Servis
9/2
8
8Bodexpress (KY)
Nik Juarez
122
Gustavo Delgado
30/1
9
9Code of Honor (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Claude R. McGaughey III
3/1
10
10Union's Destiny (KY)
Leonel Reyes
122
Juan Carlos Avila
30/1
11
11Garter and Tie (FL)
Jeffrey Sanchez
122
Ralph E. Nicks
15/1
6:58 p.m.—$200,000 San Carlos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Jerry Hollendorfer's Kanthaka and Bob Baffert's Ax Man head a field of five older horses going seven furlongs in the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 6Entries: San Carlos S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Kanthaka (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
123
Jerry Hollendorfer
3/1
2
2Ax Man (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
121
Bob Baffert
5/2
3
3Touching Rainbows (CA)
Tiago Josue Pereira
121
Philip D'Amato
6/1
4
4St. Joe Bay (FL)
Victor Espinoza
121
John W. Sadler
5/1
5
5Zatter (KY)
Geovanni Franco
121
Bob Baffert
12/1
6
6Dr. Dorr (KY)
Tyler Baze
123
Bob Baffert
7/2
7
7Solid Wager (CA)
Martin A. Pedroza
121
Peter Miller
5/1
7:28 p.m.—$100,000 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Multiple graded stakes winner Elysea's World headlines a field of eight entered in the 1 1/4-miles turf race.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 7Entries: Santa Ana S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Stradella Road (KY)
Geovanni Franco
120
Gary Stute
6/1
2
2Streak of Luck (CA)
Tyler Baze
122
Matthew Chew
3/1
3
3Lynne's Legacy (CA)
Alonso Quinonez
122
Doug F. O'Neill
8/1
4
4Poster Girl (GB)
Evin A. Roman
120
Matthew Chew
8/1
5
5India Mantuana (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
124
Thomas Ray Bell, II
10/1
6
6Elysea's World (IRE)
Drayden Van Dyke
124
Richard Baltas
5/2
7
7Zaffinah (IRE)
Rafael Bejarano
120
Jack Carava
4/1
8
8Tell Me More (KY)
Heriberto Figueroa
120
Peter Miller
10/1
8:28 p.m.—$400,000 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
One-two finishers when last they met, Bob Baffert's Marley's Freedom and John Sadler's Selcourt will each stretch out an eighth of a mile as they try the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, which has attracted an outstanding field of seven older fillies and mares. Dispatched as the 3-5 favorite in seven-furlong Santa Monica Stakes (G2) here Feb. 16, Marley's Freedom overhauled Selcourt late to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 30, 2019, Race 9Entries: Beholder Mile S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Secret Spice (KY)
Geovanni Franco
121
Richard Baltas
6/1
2
2Selcourt (KY)
Tyler Baze
121
John W. Sadler
5/1
3
3Paradise Woods (KY)
Evin A. Roman
121
John A. Shirreffs
6/1
4
4Exuberance (KY)
Victor Espinoza
121
Ian Kruljac
15/1
5
5Marley's Freedom (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
121
Bob Baffert
4/5
6
6Just a Smidge (KY)
Assael Espinoza
121
Bob Baffert
10/1
7
7Mopotism (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
121
Doug F. O'Neill
6/1