Keith chasing Derby dream with American Dubai

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Giacomo’s win in the 2005 Kentucky Derby inspired Richard Keith to set a lofty goal. He decided that afternoon that he wanted to chase the 3-year-old dream at the highest level, and he is now doing that with his wife, Sharon, and his trainer, Rodney Richards.

They are the Oaklawn-based team behind American Dubai, who caught the attention of racing fans by running a bold third at 21-1 in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 15. The stable’s 3-year-old roster also includes Black Ops, who won a maiden special weight route in November at Churchill Downs, and Saturday Shockwave, a promising son of Any Given Saturday who was entered in a maiden race Saturday.

The Keiths are in oil and gas and are residents of Hobbs, N.M. Richard Keith said he long enjoyed both horses and racing and wanted to become more involved in the sport because of Giacomo. He has bought horses in the past three years and said the group of 3-year-olds he has on deck for the current meet is his first real drive at the Kentucky Derby.

“Giacomo is actually the horse that really got me back in the game,” Keith said. “I watched him run and thought, ‘You know, it’s such a grand thing, how these guys do that.’ It’s a huge thing to have a horse like that.”

Keith spent time doing due diligence on the best approach to coming up with a good young horse, from tracking sales results to prep races that produced results. His chase for the Kentucky Derby intensifies next month at Oaklawn, where he will be represented by American Dubai in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel on March 19.

American Dubai will attract attention after he pushed the pace in the Southwest, took the lead in the stretch, then was overtaken by last-to-first winner Suddenbreakingnews. It was American Dubai’s stakes debut and his third career start, and he picked up two qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby while earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

“It was a very promising race for him,” said Richards, a third-generation horseman who launched his training career in 2003. “We’re very pleased with him. Everybody’s goal is to make the Kentucky Derby. This is our first real try at it, and I don’t know if it will happen, but things are going in the right direction.”

Richards has been pleased with how American Dubai, a maiden special weight sprint winner in November at Churchill Downs, has trained since the Southwest. The horse is by E Dubai and was purchased last March during the sale of 2-year-olds in training put on by the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.

“I liked his body style,” Richards said. “That’s my type of horse – taller, kind of leaner that’s eventually going to grow more muscle definition. He’s a tall, long-striding colt.”

American Dubai is out of the Bates Motel mare Smash Review.

Richards also likes the progress being made by Black Ops, a son of Hard Spun from the female family of Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer. The dam of Black Ops is Rendition, a daughter of A.P. Indy and a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Casino Host.

Black Ops, who had been considered for the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, likely will skip the race, said Richards. The horse is coming off an uncharacteristic 10th-place finish in the $150,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 18 at Oaklawn. The performance baffled his connections, as the horse showed significant talent when winning his maiden by a clear margin at Churchill with an 85 Beyer.

“We were just kind of like, ‘What happened?’ ” said Richards. “The very next day, he was pointing his foot.”

Richards said the horse was found to have a foot abscess. He was given time, has since resumed his normal schedule, and on Friday worked six furlongs at Oaklawn. Black Ops could return to stakes competition later in the meet, said Richards.

“He’s back on track,” said Richards.

Richards, 49, who operates a 10-horse public stable, is a son of Jerry Richards, a former jockey who trained in California. With the Keiths, Rodney Richards has a clear objective in front of the stable, which, following the Oaklawn meet, will again be based at Churchill.

“The Derby is what we’re after,” said Richard Keith.

Far Right eyes Razorback

Far Right, who was a neck winner of an optional $50,000 claiming race Thursday at Oaklawn, is a candidate for the Grade 3, $350,000 Razorback Handicap here March 19, said trainer Ron Moquett. He said the horse’s primary meet objective is the Oaklawn Handicap. Far Right on Thursday earned a Beyer of 88.

“He did just what he needed to do and no more,” Moquett said. “It was what he needed – a good race.”