McKinzie tunes up for Saudi Cup with five-furlong drill

ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie, unraced since a second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Wednesday for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 29.

Trained by Bob Baffert, McKinzie will have his first international start in the Saudi Cup, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The Baffert-trained Authentic, winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 4, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 for an expected start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 7.

The $400,000 San Felipe Stakes is a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Tuesday, Nadal, the brilliant winner of a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 19, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Nadal has the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park as a goal, Baffert said. The $750,000 Southwest Stakes is run at a mile.

Jolie Olimpica, undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes for fillies and mares on Jan. 11, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Wednesday for a scheduled start in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 22.

A 4-year-old Brazilian-bred filly, Jolie Olimpica worked alone. She is scheduled to have a longer workout in advance of the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes.

“Next week, we’ll give her a good one,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Owned by Rick Porter, Jolie Olimpica won three times in Brazil, including a Group 1 race at about a mile last June.