American Dubai possible for Cornhusker Handicap

Conquest Mo Money, who was to run Saturday in the Preakness Stakes, is not the only talented runner from the recent Sunland Park meet who is now based at Prairie Meadows.

American Dubai, who won four straight races at Sunland, also is stabled in Iowa. His wins in New Mexico included an optional $25,000 claiming race in which he set a track record for a mile and the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap. He last raced at Lone Star Park, finishing fifth in the Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile on May 7. Following that start, he was shipped to Prairie Meadows.

“He came back fine,” said Rodney Richards, who trains American Dubai for Richard Keith. “A lot of good horses take their track with them, and he’s kind of like that, but I don’t know, he just didn’t handle that track real well. He kind of struggled over it a little bit, and I don’t know why. He just favored Sunland more.”

One reason American Dubai was sent to the Steve Sexton Mile was that the horse had some familiarity with the Lone Star surface. Richards said that after being purchased at an Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co. auction at 2, American Dubai shipped to the Texas track and did some training there.

Richards said plans are to be determined for American Dubai. One consideration is the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap. The 1 1/8-mile race is July 8 at Prairie Meadows.

“We’re going to hit some stakes races, but we’re not pointing at anything directly,” Richards said. “We are here at Prairie Meadows, and there is the Cornhusker. We’ll see how he handles this track here. We’ll take it step by step.

“We might even shorten him up a little bit. He showed he’s a little more versatile this year by winning the Sunland Park Handicap at a mile and an eighth in a pretty respectable time. We thought he could only go a mile. But we’re not scared to go 6 1/2, seven furlongs either.”

American Dubai, who won the Sunland Handicap in 1:47.40, spent time on the Kentucky Derby trail last year, finishing third in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn. He was given time off in May.

“We turned him out for some good R and R,” Richards said. “Trying to campaign to get to the Derby, it’s tough on your horses. He got a good break, and I think he’s come back sharp.”

Richards said both Keith and Ken Tohill, who has been a regular in the saddle, have played important roles in helping bring out the best in American Dubai this year at 4. The horse’s first stakes win came in the Sunland Park Handicap in April and produced his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, a 97.