Wake up sleepy heads! It is well worth being an early riser today. The Dubai World Cup (DWC) card starts at 7:45 A.M. EST on Saturday, 3/25/17! California Chrome represented the United States well last year when he romped in the DWC. Will Arrogate win for America in this year’s race? Which Thoroughbred will pick up 100 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby in the UAE Derby? The “richest day in racing” carries $30 million dollars in prize money and features 9 Group 1 and 2 races. This day of racing is every bit as delightful for me as my love for the University of Kentucky Wildcats is at NCAA tournament time. In Meydan today, we have March Madness!
Meydan Racecourse is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The facility is massive and lush. While the day is named for the DWC, with a hefty $12 million purse, the event is packed with fantastic graded stakes races. By race number/race name/group/distance/surface/prize money/post-time the day unfolds as follows:
- Godolphin Mile/G2/1600 M (8 furlongs)/dirt/$1 million/7:45 A.M.EST
- Dubai Kahayla Classic/G1/2000 M (10 furlongs)/dirt/$1 million/8:15 A.M. EST
- Dubai Gold Cup/G1/3200 M (16 furlongs)/turf/$1 million/8:50 A.M. EST
- UAE Derby/G2/1900 M (9.5 furlongs)/dirt/$2 million/9:25 A.M. EST
- Al Quoz Sprint/G1/1200 M (6 furlongs)/turf/$1 million/10:00 A.M. EST
- Dubai Golden Shaheen/G1/1200 M (6 furlongs)/dirt/$2 million/10:35 A.M. EST
- Dubai Turf/G1/1800 M (9furlongs)/turf/$6 million/11:30 A.M. EST
- Longines Dubai Sheema Classic/G1/2410 M (12 furlongs)/turf/$6 million/12:05 P.M. EST
- Dubai World Cup/G1/2000 M (10 furlongs)/dirt/$10 million/12:45 P.M. EST
Race 4 is the UAE Derby. This race awards KY Derby points to the 1st 4 finishers in the order of 100-40-20-10. Sixteen Thoroughbreds will compete. The race is represented well internationally however the USA is the home of nine in the field. Last year, Japan’s Lani won the UAE Derby and then competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown. This year he is racing in the DWC. From the 2017 UAE Derby contenders, Japan’s Epicharis, has already earned a spot in the 2017 KY Derby. Will he take another 100 points or will another get the points they need to qualify for the KY Derby?
The final race of the day is the DWC. Last year, California Chrome had a 4 length victory, setting the speed record on dirt. The inaugural winner was the Unites States’ legendary Cigar. Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses in May, Curlin, Well Armed and Animal Kingdom have all won for the U.S.A. This year, fourteen horses will compete as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/morning line odds:
- Apollo Kentucky/Christophe Lemaire/K. Yamauchi/30-1
- Long River/Mickael Barzalona/S. bin Ghadayer/60-1
- Gold Dream/Joao Moreirs/O. Hirata/50-1
- Lani/Ryan Moore/M. Matsunaga/60-1
- Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/S. Asmusssen/8-1
- Move Up/Adrie De Vries/S. bin Suroor/60-1
- Awardee/Yutaka Take/M. Matsunaga/30-1
- Furia Cruzada/Antonio Freu/E. Charpy/60-1
- Arrogate/Mike Smith/B. Baffert/1-3
- Keen Ice/Javier Castellano/T. Pletcher/20-1
- Neolithic/John Velazquez/T.Pletcher/20-1
- Hoppertunity/Flavien Prat/B.Baffert/15-1
- Special Fighter/Fernando Jara/M. Ritchie/30-1
- Mubtaahij/Christophe Soumillon/M. de kock/8-1
Tune into TVG at 7:45 A.M. EST or NBC Sports from 10:30 to 1:30 P.M. EST to catch some of these races. 2016’s “world’s best racehorse”, Arrogate, is the definite favorite to win but while there are some very familiar names entered, the field is likely to be full of surprises. I can’t wait to see what Meydan’s day of March Madness brings us despite my early rise following a late win by my UK Wildcats! I’m wishing for luck for all of our athletes, human and equine. Read more on my page next and every week.
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