Two Rivers Over rallies late to spring upset in Godolphin Mile

An American horse, as expected, won the Godolphin Mile to start the Thoroughbred stakes action on the Dubai World Cup card Saturday at Meydan racing – but not the one most expected. Two Rivers Over, 14-1 on the North American tote, caught Walk of Stars and Isolate in the final half-furlong and won the Group 2, $1 million Godolphin Mile by three-quarters of a length.

Saudi Crown, the 4-5 favorite following a strong third last month in the Saudi Cup, tracked the pace under Florent Geroux but ran out of gas before hitting the homestretch in this one-turn contest. Geroux rode his mount kindly to the finish and the Brad Cox-trained 4-year-old checked in 12th.

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Edwin Maldonado, riding his first Dubai winner, gave Two Rivers Over a great trip, stalking the pace between horses in the third flight of runners down the backstretch and around the turn. Two Rivers Over travelled strongly in the bridle going for the first half-mile, but Maldonado had to give his mount a pop of the crop midway around the turn to keep Two Rivers Over engaged. As Saudi Crown fell away, Two Rivers Over came inside him turning for home and took aim, about four paths off the rail, at Isolate, the early leader, and Walk of Stars, who battled along the fence. Those two kept up the fight, but Two Rivers Over looked like a winner three-sixteenths of a mile out and eventually wore them down, Walk of Stars edging Isolate, the 2023 Godolphin Mile winner for place.

The winning time of 1:37.49 over a fast track made this the slowest Godolphin Mile since Meydan switched from a synthetic surface to dirt for the 2015 World Cup card. Two Rivers Over paid $31.90.

Two Rivers Over was the second winner of a race on the World Cup program for trainer Doug O’Neill, long a supporter of Dubai racing. O’Neill also trained the 2007 Godolphin Mile winner, Spring at Last. Two Rivers Over, a 4-year-old, is by 2015 Godolphin Mile winner Tamarkuz and out of the Cowboy Cal mare, American Cowgirl. This was easily the most important win of the gelding’s career, and Two Rivers Over, owned by Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman, was claimed for just $30,000 last June at Ellis Park.

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