American Dubai invades for Governor's Cup

American Dubai had been on deck for international travel this fall, but he instead has invaded from New Mexico for the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Sunday at Remington Park. The race became an option for the horse after suitable flight arrangements could not be made for the Keeneland Korea Cup at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea.

“We were going to go,” trainer Rodney Richards said.

South Korea’s loss is Oklahoma’s gain as American Dubai has established himself as the top handicap horse in New Mexico. He won the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap in April, then returned to the state for his most recent start and rolled to a nine-length victory in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 5.

Both races were at the same 1 1/8-mile distance of the Governor’s Cup, which has drawn five runners, including Iron Fist, the probable favorite coming off a win in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap, and Texas Chrome, who has become a millionaire since winning last year’s Oklahoma Derby.

The Governor’s Cup is part of a card of 10 stakes, highlighted by the Oklahoma Derby. There is an all-stakes pick four covering races 9-12, and the 50-cent wager has a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000.

American Dubai ran the best race of his career last out in the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap and beforehand was signaling that he was sitting on a big effort.

“He had a big old bright eye, was very happy,” Richards said. “He was great in the paddock, and in the post parade, I was like, ‘Man, he’s going to throw a big race tonight.’ Coming out of the gate, he just looked so comfortable and so relaxed. Hopefully, we’re going to repeat that here.”

American Dubai has a chance to control the pace from his rail post under Ken Tohill.

“Ken thinks he’s kind of maturing, not worried so much about the pressure on him, another horse coming up beside him,” Richards said. “He’s acting more confident and just more relaxed running.”

Iron Fist will break from post 2 after running second in the West Virginia Governor’s Cup. That race has produced four next-out winners, including two in stakes at Parx Racing. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

In other stakes on the card:

◗ Ivan Fallunovalot will be going for a four-peat in the $150,000 David M. Vance. He has won the six-furlong race in each of the past three years at ages 4 to 6. Ivan Fallunovalot will break from post 8 in the field of eight and could get an ideal trip sitting off last year’s runner-up, Wings Locked Up. Luis Quinonez has the mount for Lewis Matthews Jr. and trainer Tom Howard.

◗ Michael Hui and trainer Mike Maker sent out Taghleeb to a smashing win in last year’s Remington Green and have returned for the $100,000 turf race this year with Flashy Chelsey.

Flashy Chelsey was second by a nose in an optional $62,500 claiming race at a mile Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs and now moves back to the 1 1/8-mile distance of his last win.

Net Gain will get good support off his dominant performance in the $60,000 Unbridled at Louisiana Downs, while Turbo Street was second by a neck to multiple Grade 2 winner Slim Shadey in a $25,000 claiming race Sept. 2 at Saratoga.

◗ Maker will be active later on the card in the $75,000 Ricks Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares that serves as the first leg of the all-stakes pick four. She puts a perfect Remington record on the line as she is 2 for 2 on turf in Oklahoma City.

◗ The first of Remington’s two preps for its $400,000 Springboard Mile in December is the $75,000 Kip Deville, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds that drew 10, including stakes winners Thermistor and Aceguitar.

Aceguitar worked a bullet half-mile in 46 seconds in his final prep for the Kip Deville, while Thermistor is looking to improve his career record to 3 for 3.

Trigger Warning debuted last out in a maiden race at Del Mar won by Zatter, the eventual runner-up in the Del Mar Futurity. In addition, St. Patrick’s Day, a full brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, was in the maiden race and, after a second-place finish, came back to win a maiden special weight at Del Mar.

◗ Wheatfield and Golden Mischief return to the region for the $50,000 Flashy Lady for fillies and mares at six furlongs after racing at Saratoga. Wheatfield returns to dirt off a third-place finish in the $100,000 Smart N Fancy on turf, while Golden Mischief meets older rivals for the first time following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Prioress.

◗ Ibaka might have to overcome a fair amount of pace pressure to repeat in the $50,000 Red Earth for Oklahoma-breds at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

◗ Penguini, winner of last year’s Ricks Memorial, opts for an Oklahoma-bred spot this year and goes in the $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial.