HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, March 4, 2020)

This is Class could not have had an easier trip when he won a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong from the front on Feb. 5. Sent off favored, This is Class led by a length shortly after the start and cruised to a two-length victory.

The same scenario is unlikely to occur in Wednesday’s $186,420 Kowloon City Handicap at six furlongs at Happy Valley, but that may not be a concern for fans of This is Class. The 5-year-old gelding could certainly take an early lead, but has shown to be equally as effective when stalking the pace.

R1: 1-3-11-7
R2: 9-3-7-11
R3: 13-12-1-9
R4: 14-1-3-5
R5: 1-7-9-11
R6: 14-1-6-4
R7: 1-2-6-4
R8: 10-2-11-8
R9: 1-2-13-8
R10: 7-11-9-2

Best: R8 N10 Goodluck Goodluck
Each/way: R4 N14 Baby Storm
Play: R4 Q/QP 1-3-14

Tom Wood:

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A severe early pace foiled the front-runner, and top American sprinter Imperial Hint failed to fire. That left New York Central and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to post a surprise victory in the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint on Saturday evening at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

A Grade 3 winner when he campaigned last year in the United States, New York Central collared speedball Matera Sky in deep stretch to win by a head as Imperial Hint and fellow American shipper Captain Scotty were left reeling.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Maximum Security can take this vindication to the bank this time.

The 2019 champion 3-year-old chased away remaining demons of his Kentucky Derby disqualification by scoring a game victory over an outstanding field in the world’s richest race Saturday night at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the Middle East.

Maximum Security earned $10 million, the largest winner’s share in history, by capturing the $20 million Saudi Cup over runner-up Midnight Bisou. Victory in the world’s richest race stamps Maximum Security as the world’s best horse on dirt.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The audience was small and the money was big on a warm, comfortable Saturday evening at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, where a crowd estimated at 8,000 or fewer witnessed top-class Thoroughbred racing. International runners dominated the early stakes as American runners fell short. Below is a recap of the major undercard stakes prior to the $1.5 million Saudi Sprint (race 7) and the $20 million Saudi Cup (race 8).

Race 1

Crossfirehurricane remained unbeaten after three starts with a half-length win over stablemate Choice of Mine in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.

The first two finishers are trained by Joseph O’Brien. Crossfirehurricane, a Kentucky-bred colt by Kitten’s Joy, races for Scott Heider.

$20 million Saudi Cup, 1 1/8 miles, King Abdulaziz Racetrack

1 - Maximum Security
2 - McKinzie
3 - Tacitus
4 - Midnight Bisou

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Unless traditional handicapping principles are turned upside down in the Lasix-free, Bute-free Middle East, the $20 million Saudi Cup should reward the most important quality of an American dirt horse – speed.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Mike Smith made a grand return to the Middle East and a bold statement about racing surfaces Friday night in Saudi Arabia.

:: Get Free Saudi Cup PPs, presented by RUNHAPPY here: 

A day before his scheduled ride on Midnight Bisou in the $20 million Saudi Cup, Smith won with two of four mounts to capture a jockey competition and offered praise of the King Abdulaziz Racetrack surface that will resonate at his home track.

Crossfirehurricane, an undefeated Kentucky-bred colt by Kitten’s Joy, may start favored in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.