Mandaloun finally makes it back from Saudi Cup
NEW ORLEANS – Mandaloun’s long international nightmare is over. Stuck in Saudi Arabia for weeks following the Saudi Cup, he finally got back to the United States on Sunday and is currently in quarantine in Chicago through this coming weekend, trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday morning at Fair Grounds.
Cox said he and Juddmonte Farms' Garrett O’Rourke agreed that Mandaloun will get a brief freshening at Juddmonte after he gets out of quarantine.
“Just let him be a horse, pick at some grass for a couple of weeks,” Cox said. “Just want to freshen him after a long trip. We should pick him up again in mid-April and go from there.”
Cox said the delay in getting back from Saudi Arabia has taken Mandaloun out of consideration for the Alysheba during Derby weekend at Churchill Downs.
“He won’t make that now,” Cox said.
Mandaloun won the Louisiana Stakes here in January before going to Saudi Cup, in which he finished ninth. Mandaloun has not raced at Churchill Downs since crossing the wire second in last year’s Kentucky Derby. He subsequently was placed first following the disqualification of Medina Spirit for a medication violation.