Santa Anita: He's Had Enough headed to UAE Derby in Dubai

ARCADIA, Calif. – He’s Had Enough, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November and fifth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 23, will make his next start in the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 30.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday that He’s Had Enough was invited to the Dubai race before the Fountain of Youth, and that plans continue for the colt to be shipped to the Middle East.

“We accepted and we’ll do that,” O’Neill said. “We have five weeks and it’s $2 million.”

In the Fountain of Youth, He’s Had Enough was beaten 10 lengths by Orb.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, He’s Had Enough broke slowly, raced at the back of the field of nine to early stretch, and closed ground in the final quarter-mile.

“I thought he ran well for being drawn on the outside,” O’Neill said.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, He’s Had Enough has 1 win in 7 starts, taking a maiden race at Del Mar last summer. In the BC Juvenile, He’s Had Enough finished a head behind 2012 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby.

In early February, He’s Had Enough was third in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles here on Feb. 2.

The UAE Derby is run over about 1 3/16 miles, or 1,900 meters, and is part of the undercard of the $10 million Dubai World Cup program.

O’Neill said that he plans to send at least two horses to Dubai, including the sprinter Private Zone, who was second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 and Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Jan. 19.

Private Zone has been invited to the $2 million Golden Shaheen over about six furlongs, O’Neill said.

Handsome Mike, who starts in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, could run in Dubai, pending his performance on Saturday.

Caught Napping returns for Mitchell

Caught Napping needed a rest after finishing third in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last September.

“He was going through normal 2-year-old things,” said Phil D’Amato, trainer Mike Mitchell’s assistant. “We let him develop. We think he’ll be a better 3-year-old.”

An update on Caught Napping’s condition will be known after Saturday’s $75,000 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-olds over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. The Baffle has drawn a field of 10, including the 2012 sprint stakes winners Amarish and Native Treasure.

Caught Napping won two minor races over five furlongs on synthetic tracks in England last spring. The Oak Tree Juvenile Turf was his only start in this country. He closed from seventh in a field of nine to finish three-quarters of a length behind Dry Summer. On Feb. 23, Dry Summer won the Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.

Caught Napping is owned by Jim Ford, and is expected to run well on Saturday.

“He should be ready to run off the break,” D’Amato said. “This is a good starting point. He won twice sprinting in England, so 6 1/2 furlongs might be a good trip.”

The field includes Procurement, who won an optional claimer on turf on Feb. 7, and two European imports – Horizon Sky and Tiger Day.

Tiger Day won three sprints in Italy, but was 11th in the Group 1 Gran Criterium there in October. “I think he washed out before his last race,” trainer Ben Cecil said. “He’s doing well enough. He’s working all right.”

◗ Retired jockey Chantal Sutherland will be part of TVG’s commentary team for Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap coverage. Sutherland won the 2011 Big Cap on Game On Dude, the favorite on Saturday.