Mubtaahij dominates UAE Derby, on to Kentucky
Mubtaahij cruised to an eight-length victory in the $2 million UAE Derby and ran his way into a start in the Kentucky Derby.
Marcus HershMar 28, 2015
Mubtaahij cruised to an eight-length victory in the $2 million UAE Derby and ran his way into a start in the Kentucky Derby.
Wild at Heart’s workout at Santa Anita on Friday went a little better than expected.Officially, the 3-year-old Wild at Heart worked five furlongs in 58 seconds. Trainer Richard Mandella timed her in 1:11 for six furlongs.
International Star is a half-sibling to two stakes winners, both of whom had their greatest success at sprint distances. This son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus has already appeared to outrun those suggested distance limitations while cutting a swath through the Louisiana prep circuit, but he stretches out to nine furlongs for the first time in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby. With a number of familiar names in his pedigree, he should handle this task.
Trainer Tom Amoss is hoping the work done with War Story in recent weeks will close the gap, even reverse it, when his horse meets International Star for the third straight time in the Grade 2, $750,000 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
The Fountain of Youth ended in unsatisfying fashion, with Upstart being disqualified from first and Itsaknockout awarded the win. On Saturday, Itsaknockout and Upstart square off once again in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby.
For the second year in a row, Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., will subject horses entered in the April 4 Blue Grass Stakes to additional security protocols, including 24-hour monitoring in the 48 hours leading up to the race.
Ocho Ocho Ocho, the winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot Stakes in Louisiana last November but eighth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7, is likely to run in the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 4.
He’s won on dirt, synthetic, and turf, won going short and going long, owns wins at Belmont Park and Woodbine, and trains at Gulfstream Park. But it is here at Fair Grounds where International Star has done his best work.
Far From Over and Daredevil may both be trained by Todd Pletcher and running in the same race, but their preparations for the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 4 will be a little different.
International Star, the winner of the Lecomte and Risen Star stakes, drew the outside post in a field of nine on Wednesday when the field was drawn for Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.