RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Horse racing maintains a relatively low profile in Saudi Arabia, and the only Thoroughbred track in the city of Riyadh was quiet during late training hours Monday morning. That will change Saturday evening when many of the top male handicap horses from the United States, along with the top female, race for a $20 million purse in the inaugural Saudi Cup on the sweeping turns of King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Midnight Bisou may or may not defeat both Maximum Security and McKinzie in the one-turn, 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup, but there is no doubt about the 5-year-old mare’s current condition for trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi. “She’s fresh and happy,” Blasi said Monday after Midnight Bisou worked an easy half-mile. “And if they’re happy, they’ll run as hard as they can.” :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter The main track was all but empty Monday morning when 11 runners from the United States – five for the Saudi Cup and six for undercard stakes races – commenced training at 7 in windy but comfortable 72-degree weather. The U.S. contingent is minus one: Asmussen-trained Grade 2 winner Engage will not enter the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint after an unspecified setback. Midnight Bisou was traffic-free while breezing a half-mile Monday under exercise rider Carlos Rosas. Fewer than 400 horses stable at King Abdulaziz; they begin training in the 3 a.m. hour and finish early. That left Midnight Bisou and Sprint contender Captain Scotty, who breezed three furlongs, with a wide-open track to work on. The 800-meter drill by Midnight Bisou started from the 600-meter pole. “It was like a half [-mile work] from the three-eighths,” Blasi said, converting to stateside parlance. He said the work was “just to let her pick her feet up over the ground a little bit. She is getting over the track well. For what little we’ve done with her, she’s bounced over it.” Midnight Bisou galloped on the main track for the first time Sunday, after two days jogging and galloping on the training track. Beyond physical and mental health, two other factors hint Midnight Bisou looms a major contender in the Saudi Cup – the configuration of King Abdulaziz and the track surface. The wide turns resemble Belmont, where Midnight Bisou is 3 for 3. Furthermore, the King Abdulaziz surface has a reputation for minimal kickback. It produces a “spray,” rather than the heavy clods she was unable to overcome when she finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. That was her only loss in an eight-start 2019 campaign that earned her the Eclipse Award as outstanding older female. Midnight Bisou will carry 122 pounds in the Saudi Cup. As the only mare, she gets a four-pound break. Maximum Security, the expected favorite in the Saudi Cup, galloped Monday on the training track; he trained Sunday on the main track. Fourteen runners are likely for the Saudi Cup, in approximate odds order: Maximum Security, McKinzie, Benbatl, Mucho Gusto, Capezzano, Midnight Bisou, Chrysoberyl, Tacitus, Gronkowski, North America, Gold Dream, Magic Wand, Mjjack, and Great Scot. Engage to miss Saudia Sprint Engage will not enter the Sprint. “We had a little setback. He’s not 100 percent,” Blasi said. “I don’t think it’s anything major, but it’s in his best interest that we don’t run him.” A specific diagnosis will wait until Engage returns to the United States. Last out, Engage finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, after he won the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland. Captain Scotty, recent upset winner of the Grade 2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita for trainer Peter Miller, worked Monday under Kenny Black, who is taking care of Miller’s three runners in Saudi Arabia – Captain Scotty, Billy Batts ($800,000 Saudi Derby), and Ghoul ($1 million 1351 Turf Sprint). Captain Scotty worked three furlongs over a King Abdulaziz surface that Black said is “drastically slower” than the surface on which Captain Scotty trains at Miller’s San Luis Rey base. “It’s significantly different from what they’re use to,” Black emphasized. If Black is right that the Saudi surface is slow and remains slow through Saturday, the track will provide an even greater challenge for Captain Scotty and Billy Batts. Slower tracks require an increased level of fitness. Billy Batts will work thee furlongs on dirt Tuesday, while Ghoul will work three furlongs on turf. ◗ Rowdy Yates, the Saudi Derby contender trained by Asmussen, worked a half-mile at 9 a.m. Monday. The 5-for-8 Oklahoma-bred is coming off a resounding 3 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland. ◗ The Kingdom Day stc International Jockeys Challenge on Feb. 28 kicks off the two-day Saudi Cup festival. Jockeys will compete in four races, with mounts assigned based on a Tuesday draw. Jockeys expected to participate include Yutaka Take, Frankie Dettori, Mickaelle Michel, Lisa Allpress, Ryan Moore, Olivier Peslier, Coralie Pacaut, Mike Smith, Sophie Doyle, Nicola Currie, Sibylle Vogt, Emma-Jayne Wilson, locally based Adel Alfouraidi, and another to be determined. ◗ The ceremonial post-position draw for the Saudi Cup is at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Riyadh (10 a.m. Eastern, 7 a.m. Pacific). ◗ Wagering on the Friday and Saturday cards from King Abdulaziz Racetrack will be available on DRF Bets. First post Friday is 7:20 a.m. Eastern, and Saturday’s card begins at 8 a.m. Eastern.