Country Grammer, Taiba work seven furlongs for Saudi Cup
ARCADIA, Calif. - Country Grammer and Taiba are on schedule for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25 after working seven furlongs in 1:25.60 at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Country Grammer, second in the Saudi Cup last year, and Taiba, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2022, were stakes winners at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Country Grammer won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles under jockey Frankie Dettori, while Taiba won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds under jockey Mike Smith.
Dettori, 52, and Smith, 57, will keep those mounts in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m taking the Geritol boys,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who turned 70 last month.
Country Grammer and Taiba have been on similar work patterns in recent weeks. They both worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Jan. 29.
Amr Zedan owns Taiba and is a partner on Country Grammer with Commonwealth Thoroughbreds and Winstar Farm.
Baffert has two prospects for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby at a mile – Havnameltdown and Speed Boat Beach.
Havnameltdown won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 29. Speed Boat Beach won the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 4 in his latest start.
Speed Boat Beach worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds from the gate on Sunday, although Baffert timed the colt in 1:12.
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