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From the ERA.....
American squad taking shape for World Cup day
Even though Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap (Gr.1) may have scrambled the aspirations of some of America’s Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) program contenders, the contingent from the United States is beginning to take shape.
There could be at least four American-based horses in the world’s richest race, with reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, the WinStar Farm duo of Well Armed and Spring At Last (the latter co-owned with J. Paul Reddam), and the Allen Paulson Living Trust’s A. P. Arrow currently leading the way.
A. P. Arrow, who apparently will be the only representative of leading American trainer Todd Pletcher in Dubai this year, worked on Sunday at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, covering five furlongs in 1:01.60 over a dirt surface rated fast. The move was the fastest of five at the distance.
A six-year-old son of A.P. Indy, A. P. Arrow roared down the Gulfstream Park stretch to missing catching Spring At Last in the Donn Handicap (Gr.1) on February 2 by a half-length.
“It was almost exactly what we had in mind for him,” Pletcher said with a laugh, indicating that he would have preferred a victory. “But he ran very well.”
With several years of experience sending horses to Dubai, including five in 2007, Pletcher said he intends to get most of A. P. Arrow’s serious work done before he ships. Then, the chestnut would either gallop up to the 2,000-meter race or have just a light breeze at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
“He’s obviously an older horse and well traveled so I feel like he’ll handle it,” Pletcher said. And with his strong closing style, “I would think the long stretch (at Nad Al Sheba) would suit him very well.”
A. P. Arrow has won or placed in 16 of 22 starts, including a victory in last year’s Clark Handicap (Gr.2) at Churchill Downs, and has earned US$1,128,290 while carrying the famous Paulson colors that Cigar bore while winning the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996.
Some of the Santa Anita Handicap competitors, including winner Heatseeker, also could race in Dubai but their connections have not determined a next target.
Meanwhile, three American candidates for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1) worked over the weekend, with runners on the East and West Coast firing bullets with the fastest times.
Benny the Bull, a Grade 1 winner who captured the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes impressively in his only start to date of 2008, drilled five furlongs in 1:00 handily at Palm Meadows Training Center on Friday for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. That move was the best of 19 at the distance.
On the opposite coast the same day, Grade 3 winner Bushwacker drilled five furlongs in :57.40 at Hollywood Park, fastest of 31 at the distance. Trainer Bill Currin said he caught the six-year-old by Outflanker galloping out six furlongs in 1:09.60.
“He's ready, fit. I worked him with no Lasix, because I can't use it (in Dubai),” Currin told Daily Racing Form. He's sound and he's ready to travel."
Bushwacker did not enjoy a trip to Florida for the Sunshine Millions Sprint, however, finishing 11th behind Benny the Bull.
Another Dubai Golden Shaheen contender, Grade 1 winner and two-time track record setter Idiot Proof worked on Saturday, going a half-mile in :47.80 over the all-weather track at Santa Anita Park, seventh fastest of 47 works at the distance that day.
Idiot Proof won the Ancient Title Stakes (Gr.1) at Santa Anita last fall and then finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Gr.1). In two starts this year, the four-year-old son of Benchmark has finished third in the El Conejo Handicap (Gr.3) and second in the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap.
Barbecue Eddie, a Stormy Atlantic gelding who finished ahead of Idiot Proof while second in the El Conejo and then missed by just a neck to In Summation in the Palos Verdes Handicap (Gr.2), also is on target for the Dubai Golden Shaheen, trainer Brian Koriner confirmed.
Other American horses preparing for Dubai World Cup program races include 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) winner Better Talk Now, who toured five furlongs at Palm Meadows on Friday in a leisurely 1:05 while working for the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), and Benny the Bull’s stablemate Diamond Stripes, who drilled six furlongs in 1:15 at Palm Meadows the same day.
Winner of the Meadowlands Cup Handicap (Gr.2) last year over 2006 Dubai World Cup third-place finisher Magna Graduate, Diamond Stripes is aiming for the Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) after placing in three Grade 1 events last year at 1 1/8 miles.
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