Planetario may target races in Saudi Arabia, UAE next

DEL MAR, Calif. - Planetario, winner of the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Friday, will be considered for two seven-figure turf marathons in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in early 2024.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday that the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap at 1 7/8 miles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 24, and the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at two miles at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on March 30 will be considered for Planetario.

“With a month apart, you can do both,” Mandella said. “That’s kind of looking like the thing to do. We’ll bounce the idea around.”

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Owned by Red Rafa Stud, Planetario won the Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles by a neck, closing from sixth in a field of seven.

The win ended a three-race losing streak since the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita in June, Planetario’s longest race.

Prior to the Hollywood Turf Cup, Planetario had not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

On Thursday, Mandella won the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar with Linda’s Gift. A 4-year-old filly, Linda’s Gift won her graded stakes debut in the Red Carpet Stakes and will be considered for the $100,000 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 21, Mandella said.

Mandella has runners in the two Grade 1 turf races worth $300,000 each at Del Mar this weekend - Seal Team in Saturday’s Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles, and Ruby Nell in Sunday’s Matriarch Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares.

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