Archipenko sharp in return win

Archipenko signaled his readiness for the Dubai Duty Free while Devotee bounced back with a big win in the UAE Oaks at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night as the countdown to Dubai World Cup Night on March 28 began in earnest.

Unseen since finishing second in the Arlington Million last August, Archipenko looked sharp turning back a strong field in the Group 3, $200,000 Zabeel Mile. Never worse than fifth under a confident ride from Kevin Shea, Archipenko quickened away inside the eighth pole to score a three-quarter-length victory over Vertigineux. The time for the mile on good turf was 1:39.89.

Archipenko, trained by Mike de Kock, will now move on to the $5 million Dubai Duty Free, in which he finished third last year behind Jay Peg and Darjina.

Devotee, a distant 10th behind So Shiny in the UAE 1000 Guineas on Feb. 6, rebounded with a 1 1/4-length victory over Guineas runner-up Earth Living in the listed $250,000 UAE Oaks in which So Shiny faded to fourth. The Godolphin-owned Devotee covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast dirt track in 1:51.09.

Earlier, South African sprint champ J J the Jet Plane reveled in his return to turf, winning the Group 3, $200,000 Al Quoz Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths from Hatta Fort, getting the six furlongs in 1:11.72.