The best thing happening in Southern California horse racing this weekend might be happening in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Cup, the richest thoroughbred race in the world with a purse of $20 million, will be contested for the fifth time Saturday at about 9:40 a.m. Pacific time when 14 horses run 1 1/8 miles around one turn on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
The field of 4-year-olds and up comes from the United States, Japan and Arab countries. It’s led by White Abarrio, the U.S. 5-year-old who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November at Santa Anita. And it has a lot to interest California fans at a time when the state’s horses are trying to reassert themselves on the world stage.
Start with National Treasure, to be ridden by Santa Anita co-leader Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert.
National Treasure is listed as the 8-1 fourth choice by the Racing Post – behind White Abarrio (3-1) and Japan’s Lemon Pop (5-1) and Derma Sotogake (6-1) – and has the credentials to win.
National Treasure has been keeping California horses in headlines in the past year. His front-running victory in the Preakness last May gave the state’s trainers their only success in Triple Crown races in the two seasons since Churchill Downs barred Baffert from the Derby. National Treasure’s photo-finish second to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita was the closest any hometown horse came to winning one of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races last fall.
His victory in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January suggested a 4-year-old colt hitting his stride.
“He’s got better and better, he’s beginning to put races together,” Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer to Baffert, said in Riyadh after National Treasure drew post 7 this week. “He’s really matured and loves it here.”
One question is how National Treasure, preferring to race on or close to the lead, will fare in a field whose other…
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