Obliteration heading to Saudi Derby

Obliteration was a dominant winner of his 3-year-old debut earlier this month in the $150,000 Renaissance at Oaklawn Park, a performance that will send him to the Middle East.

“He’s targeting the Saudi Derby,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’ll fly over with Magnitude on Feb. 2, and the race is on Feb. 14.”

Asmussen trainee Magnitude is running on the same card in the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The Group 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby is being run at a distance of about a mile.

Obliteration, who won the Grade 3 Sanford by 10 1/2 lengths last July at Saratoga, was making his first start since November in the Renaissance. He was coming off a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. In the Oaklawn race, Obliteration romped by 7 1/2 lengths and earned a Beyer Figure of 90.

“It was what we were hoping to see when we went back to the dirt with him,” Asmussen said. “He’s obviously a very special horse.”

Joel Rosario, who was aboard, again has the mount in the Saudi Derby, Asmussen said. Obliteration is a son of Violence owned by Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia.

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