Crunch time. We’ve reached the final weekend of March – wow, how did that happen? – and after Saturday it will be less than six weeks until the Kentucky Derby.
With that a couple of major preps for the opening jewel of the Triple Crown on tap for Saturday – the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. The UAE Derby could also produce a contender, maybe even the New York-bred Panadol if he can handle Japan’s Pink Kamehameha, France Go de Ina and Takeru Pegasus in the $750,000 event.
Speaking of Dubai, all eyes on Meydan Race Course to start the day with the $12 million Dubai World Cup featuring American invaders Mystic Guide, Jesus’ Team, Sleepy Eyes Todd and Title Ready. Mystic Guide, a homebred for Godolphin and trainer Mike Stidham, showed his class in light sophomore campaign and came out swinging in the Grade 3 Razorback to start his 4-year-old season. He’s a deserving favorite in the 10-furlong test.
Plenty of other American representation on the card with 2020 champion turf male Channel Maker in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic; Parsimony, Avant Garde and Snapper Sinclair in the Godolphin Mile; Cowan, True Valour and Extravagant Kid in the Al Quoz Sprint; Lugamo and Ambivalent in the UAE Derby; and Yaupon, Wildman Jack and Zenden in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
The Florida Derby tops a 10-stakes card at Gulfstream, which also runs the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and Grade 2 Pan American, while the Jeff Ruby makes up a six-stakes card in Northern Kentucky along with the Bourbonette Oaks and Kentucky Cup Classic.
There’s plenty of action elsewhere, too, including at Aqueduct for the New York Claiming Championship. Open to horses which have started for a prescribed claiming price in 2020-21, the 10-race series features races named after some of the most popular claiming horses to run at the Big A at distances ranging from 6 furlongs to 1 3/8 miles.
Buckle up, it’s a big day. True March Madness. Here’s your primer for Saturday, March 27. Enjoy and good luck.
Meydan. Race 2. 8:15 a.m. The Dubai World Cup. Midnight Sands puts his 6-for-7 record at Meydan on the line in the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile. Americans Parsimony, Avant Garde and Snapper Sinclair line up.
Meydan. Race 3. 8:50. Spanish Mission and Secret Advisor, 2-3 in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia in February, clash again in the Dubai Gold Cup going 2 miles on the turf.
Doncaster. Race 1. 9:25. The Turf Season. Juveniles begin their careers in a 5-furlong dash to kick off the proper flat season.
Meydan. Race 4. 9:30. Cowan switches from a mile on the dirt in the Saudi Derby to 6 furlongs on the turf in the Al Quoz Sprint for Steve Asmussen and Luis Saez. Space Blues rides a win streak into this for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. True Valour and Extravagant Kid ship from the states.
Doncaster. Race 2. 10:00. Montatham flies the royal blue, white epaulettes and striped cap, at half staff, in the Unibet Doncaster Mile Stakes.
Meydan. Race 5. 10:05. An eclectic group from around the world – Uruguay, Laurel, Japan, Kentucky, Ireland to name a few launching pads, converge for the UAE Derby.
Kempton. Race 3. 10:15. Al Zaraqaan goes for his fourth straight in the Roseberry Handicap.
Newbury. Race 1. 10:20. Life after Cheltenham. A veterans’ chase starts off a strong card of jump racing. We like Tinkers Hill Tommy.
Doncaster. Race 3. 10:35. Twenty-two line up in the Spring Mile Handicap.
Meydan. Race 6. 10:40. The hits just keep on coming. Yaupon makes his first start since snapping his undefeated record as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The son of Uncle Mo faces a storm in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Newbury. Race 2. 10:50. Hooper wins the novice handicap hurdle.
Doncaster. Race 4. 11:10. We’ve always been a fan of History Writer. He’s 50-1 in the Unibet Lincoln. Another 22-shell artillery shot.
Gulfstream Park. Race 1. 11:30. The monster Florida Derby Day card starts with 1-mile turf maiden for 3-year-olds. Incitatius impressed us in the flesh last summer at Saratoga – where he appeared in Ian Wilkes’ annual Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour – and comes off the bench at a decent price with Lasix for the first time.
Meydan. Race 7. 11:30. The venerable Lord Glitters tries to make it two in a row in the Dubai Turf.
Doncaster. Race 5. 11:45. Nine-time winner Brando returns in the Cammidge Trophy Stakes.
Meydan. Race 8. 12:10 p.m. Mogul. Channel Maker. Walton Street. Chrome Genesis. Mishriff. Yowza. The Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.
Gulfstream. Race 3. 12:28. The $100,000 Sanibel Island leads off the stakes. World Tour won first time out for Bill Mott and steps up here.
Meydan. Race 9. 12:50. And the big one. The Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline. Mystic Guide won the Razorback to launch his 2021 campaign. Trained by Mike Stidham, the Godolphin homebred leads Title Ready, Jesus’ Team and Sleepy Eyes Todd from the American squad.
Gulfstream. Race 4. 12:57. Stay on the grass and older fillies and mares meet in $100,000 Sand Springs. Sweet Melania makes her return and first start since seventh in Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
Turfway Park. Race 1. 1:12. The big day in Florence (Y’all) always starts with a 3-year-old maiden.
Aqueduct. Race 1. 1:20. The $55,000 Videogenic Starter Stakes at 6 furlongs for fillies and mares who started for $12,500 or less in 2020-21. Malibu Mischief and Ruvie’s In Time look tough in short field.
Gulfstream. Race 5. 1:27. Basin, who led a 1-2-3 finish for Steve Asmussen in the 2019 Hopeful at Saratoga and flirted with the spring classics in 2020, makes 20201 debut and second start for Todd Pletcher in the $100,000 Sir Shackleton.
Newbury. Race 7. 1:45. Jonbon, a half-brother to Arkle winner Douvan and £570,000 purchase in November, makes his National Hunt debut in the bumper.
Aqueduct. Race 2. 1:50. The $80,000 Caixa Eletronica Starter for 4-year-olds and up who started for $40,000 or less. They’ll go 7 furlongs here, the same distance American Power won the Grade 3 Toboggan last time out for Rob Atras. Pete’s Play Call gave him a test that day and returns off dull effort in the Grade 3 Tom Fool.
Gulfstream. Race 6. 1:57. Seismic Wave, a stakes winner and graded performer for Juddmonte and Bill Mott before selling for $60,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale, makes first start for new connections in Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Appleton. Now in Chad Brown’s barn, 5-year-old Tapit gelding is 2-for-2 on the Gulfstream grass.
Aqueduct. Race 3. 2:20. The $75,000 Xtra Heat Starter, of course at 6 ½ furlongs for fillies and mares who started for $25,000 or less. Named for the Hall of Famer who won four stakes at Aqueduct in her 26-win career, this one looks difficult for any but Letmetakethiscall and Madam Meena.
Fair Grounds. Race 2. 2:29. The $75,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial for state-bred fillies and mares going two turns on the dirt. One of the last stakes of the meet, it’s a tough one to sort but we’ll lean on Net A Bear.
Aqueduct. Race 4. 2:50. The $55,000 Kelly Kip Starter for 4-year-olds and up who started for $12,500 or less. How has it been almost 25 years since Kelly Kip won for a $35,000 tag in track-record time for The Chief? And he paid $9.30 to boot. Bears Mafia won seven of 11 last year, tops among all New York-breds andn he makes first start since mid-November when he was vanned off.
Gulfstream. Race 8. 2:57. The Grade 3 Ghostzapper, formerly the Hal’s Hope, brings back the 103 from the Challenger at Tampa in Last Judgement and War Stopper, along with Eye Of A Jedi and Superfecto.
Turfway. Race 5. 3:10. Plenty of potential in 6-furlong maiden, including second-time starters Mischievous Rogue and Supremacy and first-timers Emphasize, Nine Reaper and Hornswoggle.
Aqueduct. Race 5. 3:32. The $45,000 Belle Gallantey Starter, for fillies and mares who started for $8,000 or less. Field of seven entered for 7-furlong event and the two on the inside – Lovely Lady Lexi and Dublinornothin – will be tough.
Turfway. Race 6. 3:40. The $100,000 Rushaway leads off the stakes. Be Here, Augustin homebred by Ghostzapper out of champion Informed Decision, won debut on the synthetic and bids for second straight for Jonathan Thomas. He’s in midst of strong meet and could add big one here.
Aqueduct. Race 6. 3:52. The $70,000 Peeping Tom Starter, for 4-year-olds up and up that started for $20,000 or less, at 6 1/2 furlongs. Nine entered and it’s a tough bunch to sort.
Gulfstream. Race 10. 4:09. Cross Border scratched from similar spot last week at Fair Grounds for the Grade 2 Pan American presented by Rood and Riddle. New York-bred ridgling meets old rival Sadler’s Joy again in 12-furlong turf test. Those two were a neck apart in Grade 2 Bowling Green last summer at Saratoga, with Sadler’s Joy disqualified and Cross Border put up.
Turfway. Race 7. 4:10. Full field of 12 fillies and mares for the $100,000 Latonia.
Aqueduct. Race 7. 4:24. The $60,000 More To Tell Starter, for 4-year-olds and up that started for $16,000 or less, at 1 mile. Durkin’s Call, Malibu Pro, Control Group and Chief Know It All run first off the claim.
Santa Anita Park. Race 2. 4:35. How good is Bruja Escarlata? She’s won on dirt and turf and tries to make it three straight back on the main track here in 6-furlong optional for Hronis Racing and John Sadler.
Turfway. Race 8. 4:40. Pico d’Oro tried to get on track for the Jeff Ruby but shortens back up for the $65,000 Animal Kingdom at 6 1/2 furlongs. Wesley Ward brings Outadore, third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, back in field that also includes Arzak, Chasing Artie and Gagetown.
Gulfstream. Race 11. 4:43. Annex improved to 2-for-2 in the Palm Beach and goes for three in the $100,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds on the grass.
Fonner Park. Race 6. 4:45. Eight 3-year-old fillies entered for $15,000 Pepsi, including debut maiden winner Lemons Is Gone, former Kentucky-based Miss Magdalena and former Steve Asmussen trainee Miss Chit.
Aqueduct. Race 8. 5:00. The $60,000 Sis City Starter, for fillies and mares that started for $16,000 or less, at 1 mile. A field of 11 entered, led by Linda Rice’s entry of Excess Capacity and Sirenic.
Turfway. Race 9. 5:10. Set Piece, winner of the Prairie Bayou two back and a close fourth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds last time, returns to Northern Kentucky for the $150,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic.
Gulfstream. Race 12. 5:17. Crazy Beautiful tries to improve off second in Grade 2 Davona Dale and punch ticket to Kentucky Oaks in $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. She’s a stakes winner and placed in three graded events for Ken McPeek and takes on the turf-to-dirt Con Lima, Davona Dale 3-4 in Competitive Speed and Pens Street.
Fair Grounds. Race 8. 5:23. Prairie looked good finishing second last time in similar turf sprint maiden for Al Stall Jr. and should graduate.
Aqueduct. Race 9. 5:34. Now you’re talking. The $75,000 Stud Muffin Starter, for 4-year-olds and up that started for $25,000 or less, at 11 furlongs. Musical Heart lost by a length to Mr. Buff in open stakes last time and takes on Doubly Blessed, Heirloom Kitten, Air Attack and Super Dude.
Santa Anita. Race 4. 5:45. The aptly named Herd Immunity – just get in line for the shot, don’t be a punk – goes first off the claim for Hronis and Sadler.
Turfway. Race 10. 5:45. The Bourbonette Oaks offers a $150,000 pot and 50 points toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks field in less than six weeks’ time. Wait For Nairobi won the local prep and takes on Kenny McPeek’s trio of Oliviaofthedesert, Roll Up Mo Money and Forever Boss, along with Into Vanishing, Adventuring, Candace O and California Lily.
Oaklawn Park. Race 8. 5:47. Peaky Blinders fans will be on board Thomas Shelby in 1 1/16-mile starter allowance. He drops to more reasonable level here for Robertino Diodoro.
Gulfstream. Race 13. 5:55. Older fillies and mare stretch 11 furlongs in the Grade 3 Orchid. Todd Pletcher, with yet another top grass runner (how about Colonel Liam last week in the Muniz Memorial?) in Always Shopping. She’s won her last two and three of four since the permanent switch to the turf. Christophe Clement starts European import Sorrel, the winner of three straight last summer and fall for Sir Michael Stoute.
Fonner. Race 9. 6:06. Rock City Roadhog and Docs Holiday, both fourth in local stakes appearances last time, look for softer company in 6 1/2-furlong optional.
Aqueduct. Race 10. 6:10. The $45,000 Dads Caps Starter, for 4-year-olds and up that started for $8,000 or less, at 7 furlongs. Looks wide open with Seven Lilies and Honorable Service drawn outside and Fox Red and Skyler’s Scramjet drawn inside.
Oaklawn. Race 9. 6:19. How about these purses? Allowance for fillies and mares worth $110,000 draws stakes-caliber field in Vault, Istan Council, Beach Flower and Piece Of My Heart.
Fair Grounds. Race 10. 6:21. Field of 11 3-year-olds for 1 1/16-mile turf optional, including last-out winner Bryce Canyon for Brendan Walsh and Black Gold Stakes fifth T D Dance for Brad Cox.
Turfway. Race 11. 6:25. The first four from the Battaglia – Hush Of A Storm, Like The King, Gretzky The Great and Hard Rye Guy – return for the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby along with Holy Bull runner-up Tarantino, Sainthood, Smiley Sobotka, Dyn O Mite and Hockey Dad. The winner gets 100 points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, with 40-20-10 offered to the next three placings.
Gulfstream. Race 14. 6:40. The main event, the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa. That’s a mouthful. Regardless, there’s 100 points on the line for a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate for the winner. Greatest Honour probably already locked up his spot – he sits at 60 and third heading into the weekend – and goes for a sweep of the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby for Shug McGaughey. Standing in the way are 10 rivals that include Southern California shipper Spielberg, runner-up to Essential Quality in the Southwest, Sam F. Davis runner-up Nova Rags and impressive last-out winners Known Agenda and Collaborate.
Fair Grounds. Race 11. 6:50. The final stakes of the meet, the $75,000 Star Guitar. Named for an old favorite who won 24 of 30 and more than $1.7 million. He’s represented by two longshots – Guitar Tribute and Guitar Slim.
Oaklawn. Race 10. 6:52. K J’s Nobility returns to defend title in Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes for older Arkansas-breds. He won it last year for brother-brother team of Calvin Borel and Cecil Borel. Now he tries for husband-wife team of Calvin Borel and Renay Borel.
Turfway. Race 12. 7:00. Full field of 12 3-year-old fillies close the card in 6-furlong maiden.
Oaklawn. Race 11. 7:26. An almost full field of 11 3-year-olds finish the card in 1-mile maiden.
Santa Anita. Race 8. 7:55. The Notre Dame hockey team lost its chance to compete for an NCAA title in Albany, N.Y., this week due to positive COVID-19 tests. Perhaps the Into Mischief gelding Notre Dame can eke out a win in 6-furlong optional for Doug O’Neill.
Santa Anita. Race 9. 8:25. Tough to go against Mucho Unusual in turf marathons on the West Coast. Multiple graded stakes-winning Cal-bred takes on seven others in Grade 3 Santa Ana going 10 furlongs in the finale.
Charles Town Races. Race 7. 10:02. Take a break from the late NCAA Sweet 16 game and see if Tiz Evan’s Honey is as good as she looked in maiden win in 7-furlong state-bred allowance. Jamestown Road and Boundtobeok will give her a test.
