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Lone Rock Could Target Dubai World Cup After Razorback

The gelding excelled in marathon dirt races last year.

Lone Rock wins the 2021 Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Lone Rock wins the 2021 Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Coady Photography

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said in November that Lone Rock's 2022 racing schedule could include another shot in grade 1 company after the son of Majestic Warrior became energized in marathon events last year.

Diodoro has that grade 1 race circled and a familiar path to try and get there.

The trainer said Lone Rock is pointed for the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 12 at Oaklawn Park and if all goes well, the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) March 26 at Meydan Racecourse. The Dubai World Cup is at 2,000 meters, or about 1 1/4 miles.

The Razorback would be Lone Rock's first start at less than 1 1/8 miles since an allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles in his 2021 debut last February at Oaklawn.

"I don't know if we have to win it," Diodoro said. "We are shortening up to 1 1/16 miles in the Razorback. As long as he shows up again and runs like he's been running, then we're going to give it (the Dubai World Cup) some serious consideration, for sure."

Gun Runner  launched his 2017 Horse of the Year campaign with a runaway victory in the Razorback before finishing second in the Dubai World Cup in his next start. Last year's Razorback winner, Mystic Guide , won the Dubai World Cup in his next start.

Hot Rod Charlie is another American horse pointed toward this year's Dubai World Cup. He travels to Dubai this month to race once in Dubai in advance of the Dubai World Cup.

Lone Rock captured seven of nine starts last year, including the Brooklyn Stakes Presented by Northwell Health(G2) in June at Belmont Park and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) Nov. 6 at Del Mar under Oaklawn regular Ramon Vazquez.

The Razorback would mark Lone Rock's first start since concluding his spectacular 2021 campaign with a three-quarter length victory over stablemate Thomas Shelby in the inaugural Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 18 at Oaklawn. Thomas Shelby ran third in the Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 15 at Oaklawn.

Lone Rock returned to the work tab Jan. 14, breezing a half-mile on a fat track in :49 3/5 under Vazquez. 

"He worked great," Diodoro said.

Owned by Jason Provenzano's Flying P Stable and Randy Hill's R. A. Hill Stable, Lone Rock has won 14 of 37 career starts and earned $1,144,921, including $842,884 last year.

Other locally based horses pointing for the Razorback include multiple grade 3 winner Plainsman for trainer Brad Cox and Last Samurai. Dallas Stewart trainee Last Samurai won the inaugural Poinsettia Stakes for 3-year-olds Dec. 11 at Oaklawn. Both horses also worked Jan. 14, with Plainsman going a half-mile in :48 3/5 and Last Samurai covering the same distance in :49.