Meydan: Polar River takes UAE Oaks

Polar River was nowhere near as impressive Thursday in the UAE Oaks as she had been in her three previous starts this winter, but she kept her unbeaten record alive with a three-quarter-length win over South American import Vale Dori in just a three-horse field at Meydan. The Oaks was run around two turns over 1 3/16 miles, Polar River’s first start around a second bend, and after appearing to put away Vale Dori at the top of the stretch, Polar River’s lead dwindled precipitously in the final half-furlong. Jockey Pat Dobbs said his mount idled after making the lead, but Polar River might not be a cinch after all in the March 26 UAE Derby.

In the Group 2 Balanchine over nine furlongs on turf for fillies and mares, Very Special led the entire trip and beat the favored Euro Charline by 2 1/2 lengths.

Solow wins Dubai Turf prep

The mighty Solow started his 2016 campaign Thursday in France looking just as good as the horse who went undefeated and won five straight Group 1 races in 2015.

Racing in the Prix Montjeu on Polytrack, Solow overcame a bit of trouble and won by 1 1/2 lengths in his prep race for the $6 million Dubai Turf on March 26. Trainer Freddie Head used the same race last winter as a stepping-stone to Solow’s blowout win on the World Cup card.