Archipenko returns in Duty Free prep

Archipenko, absent from the races since his unlucky second in the Arlington Million on Aug. 9, preps for his date in the Dubai Duty Free in the Group 3, $200,000 Zabeel Mile at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night. The eight-race, $1.37 million card will also include the appearance of South African sprint champ J J the Jet Plane in the Al Quoz Sprint and UAE 1000 Guineas winner So Shiny in the UAE Oaks.

Archipenko's most dangerous rival looks like the Godolphin-owned Tam Lin, the 4 1/2-length winner of Belmont's Kelso Handicap in his last start on Sept. 28. Vertigineux, a two-time Group 3 mile winner in France, is also worthy of consideration.

J J the Jet Plane flopped in his Nad Al Sheba dirt debut two weeks ago, finishing sixth in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance. The six-furlong Al Quoz, a Group 3 turf dash worth $200,000, should be more to his liking.

In the listed $250,000 UAE Oaks at 1 1/8 miles, So Shiny will face virtually the same field she thrashed in the one-mile UAE 1000 Guineas three weeks ago.