Reef Runner, the Florida-based turf sprinter, will have an extended stay in the Middle East after a win in Saturday’s Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia. Trainer David Fawkes wrote in a text message on Sunday that he plans to start Reef Runner in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at six furlongs on turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28. Fawkes said that Reef Runner was “all good” after his win in the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint at about 6 3/4 furlongs. Reef Runner, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., caught the European Group 1 winner Lazzat in the final strides to win by a neck. Reef Runner was the first runner in Saudi Arabia for Fawkes. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “I love coming to a place and winning the first time,” he told the press. “The horse trained excellent. It means a lot to me. I know we beat a really good horse.” Reef Runner, owned by Alex and Joann Lieblong, has won 8 of 23 starts and earned $1,827,580. The win on Saturday was worth $1.2 million. Reef Runner was one of two American-based winners in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Imagination, trained in California by Bob Baffert, won the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, a $2 million race at six furlongs. Baffert said in a text message on Sunday that he had not finalized his plans for Dubai on March 28. Imagination, ridden by Flavien Prat, finished three-quarters of a length in front of the Florida-based Just Beat the Odds, trained by Gregg Sacco. Imagination, by Into Mischief, earned $1.2 million for the win, his fourth victory in his 15th start. Imagination, who races for a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, has career earnings of $2,143,700. Reef Runner is one of at least three winners from Saturday’s program in Saudi Arabia bound for Meydan on March 28. Forever Young, who won the $20 million Saudi Cup for the second consecutive year on Saturday, will start in the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Last year, Forever Young was third in the Dubai World Cup behind the American-trained runners Hit Show and Mixto. Forever Young won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November. In January, Forever Young was honored with the Eclipse Award as the champion older dirt male of 2025 in the United States. In the Saudi Cup, Forever Young finished a length in front of the Baffert-trained Nysos, winner of the BC Dirt Mile at Del Mar last November. Al Haram, winner of Saturday’s Group 3 Saudi Derby at a mile, is scheduled to start in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby on March 28. The race could result in a trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 for Al Haram, an Irish-bred colt by Iffraaj. Al Haram, trained by Abdullah Alsidrani for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah of Kuwait, is unbeaten in four starts, all in Saudi Arabia. With the win in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby, Al Haram earned 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in the Europe-Middle East qualifying division. “Hopefully, he is good enough to be in the Kentucky Derby,” the owner’s son, Sheikh Faisal Al Sabah, told the press after Saturday’s race. Al Haram finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Obliteration, who won the Renaissance Stakes at six furlongs by 7 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 3 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Two berths to the Kentucky Derby are available through the 10-race series, which concludes with the UAE Derby in Dubai. The winner of the UAE Derby receives 100 qualifying points. Through Saturday, Al Haram led the division with 30 points. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.