Turf Paradise: Idiot Proof a Dubai possible

Idiot Proof's second-place finish to the streaking Tribesman in Saturday's $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup was solid, to be sure. But was it solid enough for owners Pam and Martin Wygod to send him into the Group 1, $2 million Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup undercard on March 29?

"We just got outrun," said trainer Cliff Sise Jr. "As far as Dubai goes, well, I'll have to talk to the owners."

Idiot Proof's rider, David Flores, agreed. "The other horse was too good today," he said. "I was expecting him to come back to us, but he just kept going."

Tribesman notched his fifth straight win on Saturday. One reason Flores likely expected him to tire a bit was because Tribesman set a sizzling pace, going the half-mile in 43.17 seconds. But he kept on, and covered the six furlongs in 1:07.80.

"This horse is naturally fast and was running easy with his ears pricked the first half-mile," said Tribesman's rider, Chad Schvaneveldt. "When I called on him for more in the stretch, he took off again."