Cup races runneth over with big-money opportunities
For owners and trainers of top-class older dirt horses, what potentially could be the most lucrative months of their racing careers are about to commence.
Beginning with the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, and continuing with the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 and $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 28, three races worth a total of $35 million will be run the first quarter of the year at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles.
For owners like Kosta and Pete Hronis and trainer John Sadler, who have Grade 1 winners Gift Box and Higher Power, all three races are potential targets.
“Right now, we’re pointing Higher Power to the Pegasus,” said Sadler, who said Gift Box is possible for the Saudi Cup, while Higher Power – third most recently in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – could move on to Dubai, pending the result of the Pegasus.
“We’ll make those decisions after the Pegasus,” Sadler said earlier this week.
Similarly, Tax could move on to the Dubai World Cup if he runs well in the Pegasus, according to his trainer, Danny Gargan.
“If he runs one-two in the Pegasus, he’d go to Dubai,” Gargan said. “I don’t think you can do Pegasus and Saudi and Dubai, but if he ran one-two in the Pegasus we’d have to consider Dubai. But he is nominated to the Saudi Cup, and he will be nominated to Dubai.”
The prospective Pegasus field is topped by Omaha Beach, who would be making his final start before going to stud at Spendthrift Farm, and Spun to Run, who upset Omaha Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and most recently was second in the Cigar Mile.
Both the Pegasus and the Saudi Cup are at 1 1/8 miles. The Dubai World Cup is 1 1/4 miles.
The Saudi Cup is the focal point for the likes of Maximum Security, McKinzie, and Midnight Bisou, as well as Math Wizard and Mucho Gusto.
“Saudi is the target – $20 million, mile and an eighth, one turn,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains the mare Midnight Bisou, the overwhelming favorite to be named champion older dirt female of 2019 at the Eclipse Awards on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.
The Saudi Cup would be the first start against males for Midnight Bisou.
Midnight Bisou, second most recently in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, is training at Fair Grounds.
“She looks beautiful,” Asmussen said. “I’m here now. She is gorgeous.”
Asmussen said a potential start in the Dubai World Cup “would depend on how she does in Saudi.”
The Saudi Cup also is expected to be the first start of 2020 for McKinzie, who most recently was second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bob Baffert, trainer of McKinzie, said Mucho Gusto also is under consideration for the Saudi Cup, though he could have a race before that, perhaps in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. Mucho Gusto also was a reserve invitee to the Pegasus World Cup.
McKinzie received an invitation to the Pegasus World Cup, but the Saudi Cup is his target. A potential start in Dubai would depend on how he performs in the Saudi Cup.
McKinzie worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Wednesday morning Santa Anita.
Both Maximum Security and Math Wizard also have the Saudi Cup scheduled as their first start of the year. Both were on the Pegasus invite list released last Sunday.
Maximum Security, who is expected to be named champion 3-year-old male of 2019 at the Eclipse Awards and finished in the top three for votes for Horse of the Year, most recently won the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Math Wizard, the Pennsylvania Derby winner, was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his last start. The Pegasus remains a slight possibility, but more likely he will head straight to the Saudi Cup.
Obviously, recent events in the Mideast regarding the United States and Iran are being monitored.
“Very much expect they’d keep us very safe,” Asmussen said of the Saudi Cup. “Lot of confidence that would go well. It might require us to ask a couple more questions, but I have great confidence they’re more aware than anyone what their needs are. It’s an event we want to be part of.”
