Tag: Dubai World Cup

Hot Rod Charlie put in a 1:01.60, five-furlong work last Saturday at Santa Anita Park. He returns for the first time in nearly three months for Saturday's Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Hot Rod Charlie Motors Back to Monmouth Park for the Salvator Mile

Hot Rod Charlie is the marquee name on Monmouth Park’s inaugural Haskell Stakes Preview Day, which stands to reason when you consider he’s making his first start in nearly three months. But in a Grade 3 race? The Salvator Mile? Isn’t that a tad slumming for a horse with more […]

Frankie Dettori (bottom right in blue/red silks) was fined $13,600 for excessive whipping of Country Grammer in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup. (Image: Dubai Racing Club)

Dubai Racing Stewards Fine Dettori for Crop Violations in DWC

Dubai Racing Club stewards fined jockey Frankie Dettori $13,600 (AED 50,000) for excessively whipping Country Grammer during their winning trip in the $12 million Dubai World Cup. That takes a small chunk out of the $750,000 Dettori won for piloting the Bob Baffert-trained 5-year-old to victory. Co-owned by Amr Zedan […]

Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori pulled away for a 1 3/4-length victory over Hot Rod Charlie to win the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup. (Image: Dubai Racing Club/Cedric Lane)

Country Grammer Writes a Brilliant Finish to Dubai World Cup

Country Grammer left clues in last month’s Saudi Cup he was just about back. In Saturday’s Dubai World Cup, he announced in rousing fashion he was all the way back. The 5-year-old Bob Baffert charge and 9/1 offering in international odds ran down front-running 2/5 favorite Life Is Good over […]

Life Is Good works out this week before Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup. He is the 4/5 international morning line favorite. (Image: Erika Rasmussen)

Life Is Good Leads Strong American Parade Into Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup features Life Is Good and his better-than-good speed, Hot Rod Charlie and his better-than-good tenacity, Country Grammer and his better-than-good ability at this distance and Midnight Bourbon and his better-than-good money finishes. All competing for a better-than-great $12 million purse at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Post […]

Wigoberto Ramos celebrates a 99/1 upset aboard Emblem Road in the Saudi Cup. He may follow Americans Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon to the Dubai World Cup in March. (Image: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Mathea Kelley

Dubai the Next Destination for Country Grammer, Midnight Bourbon

It’s off to Dubai for Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon, back to the US for Mandaloun and Art Collector and a roving question mark for Emblem Road and Mishriff. This is the post-Saudi Cup itinerary for several of the principals of the third edition of the world’s richest horse race, according to […]

Hot Rod Charlie will use Saturday's Group 2 Maktoum Challenge as a tune-up for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Hot Rod Charlie Ventures into New Territory — Dubai

The ever-expanding travelogue of Hot Rod Charlie adds another destination stamp on Friday: Dubai. That’s where the popular colt makes his 4-year-old debut in the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse. This serves as the designated warm-up, get-acclimated-to-the-track race before the March 26 Group 1 Dubai World Cup. It’s […]

Drain the Clock won last year's Grade 1 Woody Stephens at 7/1. A mainstay of Saffie Joseph Jr.'s barn, he opens his 4-year-old campaign Feb. 5. (Image: NYRA Photo)

Remember These Two Joseph Horses? Drain the Clock, Ny Traffic Return

Get ready to welcome back two familiar names from the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn: Drain the Clock and Ny Traffic, both who return in the next month for campaign-beginning races. And after those two warm-up starts, the pair could meet in the April 9 Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. […]

Mystic Guide (right) lost the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes to Max Player earlier this month. Afterwards, X-rays revealed a bone chip in Mystic Guide's knee that requires surgery. (Image: Elsa Lorieul/Coglianese Photos/NYRA)

Mystic Guide’s Racing Future Uncertain After Impending Knee Surgery

The racing future for standout 4-year-old Mystic Guide has become uncertain after owner-breeder Godolphin announced he would undergo surgery for a knee chip. Noted surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, will perform the surgery. Meanwhile, the Dubai World Cup winner goes on the […]

Jockey Luis Saez and Mystic Guide quieted the few critics they had in March's Dubai World Cup. The 4-year-old returns for Saturday's Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park. (Image: Mathea Kelly/Dubai Racing Club)

Mystic Guide Proves His Strong Form is No Mystery, Rides Into Suburban

Last summer, Mystic Guide gave Mike Stidham that “a-ha” moment all trainers look for in their charges; the moment they see a horse “get it.” It’s a feeling every trainer seeks — the knowledge their horse is understanding their capabilities, how good they can be, and what they can do […]

Mystic Guide put on blinkers in time to win last summer's Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. He's carried that form into favorite status in the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup. (Image: Janet Garaguso/NYRA)

Dubai World Cup: Where Buying American Often Pays Off

The list of Dubai World Cup champions since the race’s 1997 debut include inaugural winner Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Curlin, Animal Kingdom, California Chrome and Arrogate. True Thoroughbred stars who commanded attention the moment their names entered a race. This is apt. Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup comes […]

Thunder Snow (right) captured the last two Dubai World Cups. The late March race kept its $12 million purse as undercard race purses were trimmed due to COVID-19. (Image: Erika Rasmussen/Dubai Racing Club)

Dubai World Cup Keeps $12 Million Purse, Slices Undercard Purses

The Dubai World Cup announced this weekend it will retain its US$12 million purse for 2021, while, at the same time, cutting $8.5 million from its undercard purses. This keeps the March 27 Dubai World Cup as one of the richest races in the world. The late March event was […]

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

The $12 million Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse races, became the latest sporting casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic when organizers canceled the race and the rest of Saturday’s card. That card at Meydan Racecourse forms the world’s richest race day, one featuring $35 million in purses […]