Dobles chancing trip to Dubai with War Story

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Elizabeth Dobles is well aware of the uncertainties she will encounter by accompanying War Story to Dubai for the upcoming World Cup on March 28. But as of Monday, War Story was still scheduled to be on the flight along with several other locally based horses who will depart from Fort Lauderdale to Dubai on Tuesday afternoon.

“Naturally, I’m worried about the coronavirus just like everyone else, and I guess the conditions in Dubai are similar to what it is here,” Dobles said by phone from her barn at Palm Meadows after training hours Monday. “But from my perspective, this is an opportunity I’ll probably never have again and one I feel is worth taking the chance.”

War Story finished a late-running third in the Pegasus World Cup here on Jan. 25 to swell his lifetime earnings to more than $3.26 million. He had his final prep for the $12 million Dubai World Cup earlier Monday at Palm Meadows, an easy-half mile in 51.20 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form.

“He began to pick it up from the five-furlong pole, worked an easy half-mile, and was his normal self,” Dobles said. “He doesn’t need to do much. He’s been breezing steadily every week since the Pegasus. He had six weeks off prior to that race, ran well, and has another six weeks off prior to this next race, a break in between starts which I think he prefers at his age.”

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Dobles will leave Tuesday evening and arrive in Dubai shortly after War Story at approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

“I get on him every day, so I thought it made more sense that I accompany him instead of someone else from the barn,” said Dobles, who has 30 horses stabled at Palm Meadows. “Originally, we thought we’d have a problem getting him home because the flight was supposed to stop in Germany and that could have been an issue. Now they tell us he can fly back directly to Newburgh, N.Y., where he’ll be quarantined until returning to Florida. I’ll probably have to quarantine myself for 14 days when I get back as well. But like I said, I felt it was worth going through all that since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Sir Winston and Shotski will accompany War Story on the flight to Dubai, and both also worked Monday. Sir Winston went four furlongs in 48.80 at Palm Meadows for the Dubai World Cup, Shotski the same distance in an easy 50.09 at Gulfstream Park for the UAE Derby.

“Everything is still a go right now,” said Mark Casse, trainer of Sir Winston. “He had a maintenance work this morning, which was actually very good for him. His ‘A’ work is everybody else’s ‘C’ work, although I think he’s trained better, with a lot more vigor, than before he won the Belmont. We’re hoping the Saudi race might take something out of those horses running in Dubai, and as well as he’s doing right now, I think he has as good a shot as anybody to win.”

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Sir Winston in the World Cup.

Shotski won the Remsen at Aqueduct but ran fourth in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.

“He did everything I asked him to breezing this morning,” trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer said. “I know it’s a risk sending him over there, but one we’re willing to take. Hopefully, everything will have calmed down by the time he’s ready to come home. We could have left him here to run in the Florida Derby. With a better trip, if he hadn’t been hung out wide, I think he was the second best horse in the Fountain of Youth, although I believe this is an easier opportunity for him and a good chance not only to win a graded race but to earn additional points to qualify for the Derby, which is our goal.”

Shotski has 19 Kentucky Derby points.

Dale Romans was still weighing his options as of Monday regarding the status of Mr Freeze in the Godolphin Mile.

“The problem is the flight set to come back was going through Europe,” Romans said. “I want to run my horse over there. He couldn’t be doing better. But I want it to be easy. I don’t want him to get stuck out of the country. I want him to get home safe. For my people to be safe. I’m going to wait to the last minute. I’m prepared to go, but I’ll pull the plug if I have to.”

One trainer who canceled a spot on Tuesday’s flight to Dubai is Todd Pletcher, who has opted not to send Fountain of Youth runner-up Candy Tycoon for the UAE Derby.

“We were thinking about it, but it seems a little more complicated sending him and our employees to Dubai under the current circumstances and taking the risk of having them get stranded over there,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said in all likelihood he would reroute Candy Tycoon to the Grade 1 Florida Derby, to be decided here March 28.