Americans in Saudi Sing the Praises of Global Racing

There's a scarcity of American trainers at this year's Saudi Cup (G1) meeting, but the few who made the trip sing the praises of international travel. Kenny McPeek, for example, craftily used the international scene to get Saudi Cup contender Rattle N Roll into the $20 million race Feb. 22. Chad Summers, meanwhile, is using Saudi Arabia as a potential path to the Kentucky Derby (G1). "Events like this are exactly why the Thoroughbred is so special—because it connects the whole world," McPeek told a prerace news conference. "Whether you're an American trainer, an English trainer, Irish, Japanese or Australian... I'm sure I'm leaving someone out, but you really have this common denominator of being around the Thoroughbred and it's such an amazing animal. "I have been worldwide because of the Thoroughbred, and I'm just extremely blessed," McPeek said. McPeek said he swerved the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) in favor of bringing Rattle N Roll to Saudi Arabia for a shot at the "Win and You're In" Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Stakes (G3) that same day. That worked out when the 6-year-old son of Connect won that feature easily. "We wanted to bring him here last year, but the timing didn't work out," he said in an earlier interview. "The track at Gulfstream wasn't right for him, anyway. So we gave him some time off, shipped him early and it worked out." Saudi businessman Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri is a co-owner with Mike Mackin's Lucky Seven Stable, so the local ownership also played a part in picking the early race. WATCH: McPeek, Mackin Talke Rattle N Roll Ahead of Saudi Cup Summers has a wholly different take on the international options epitomized by the Saudi Cup. The regular visitor to the Middle East starts Jerome Stakes winner Cyclone State, an Iowa-bred, in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3), thanks to a chance encounter with Emer Fallon, the Saudi Cup's director of racing services, at the Breeders' Cup last fall at Del Mar. At that point, Cyclone State was still winless after four starts for owners Gold Square, George Messina, and Michael Lee. "When she (Fallon) asked when I was going to send something back over here (to Saudi Arabia), I said I had just the horse, although you might think I'm crazy as he's still a maiden. "Cyclone State has won three races in a row since that conversation and it's always been in the back of our minds. This racetrack is tailor-made to his ability. Obviously it's a strong field with the local contingent, and you add in the Japanese that are always strong in the race." He also noted last year's Saudi Derby was won by Forever Young (JPN), who went on to win the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai, landing a spot in the Run for the Roses, where he was third, beaten two noses. "Obviously, the Kentucky Derby means a lot to a lot of people, my owners included, but they trust me, and we felt like this was the path we wanted to take," Summers said. "If we can be fortunate enough to be invited to the UAE Derby and qualify—it worked out well for Forever Young." Dan Blacker has yet another perspective on global racing. Blacker sent out Straight No Chaser to win the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and that opened the door to dip his toe in the international waters, starting at the top in Saudi. While Blacker is new on the scene, his Hall of Fame rider, veteran John Velazquez, has decades of experience traveling to ride in big-day Middle Eastern racing. MyRacehorse's Straight No Chaser is "in very good form and runs very well fresh, so I'm not worried about the time between races. As long as he ships well and trains well once we arrive in Riyadh, I expect him to run a big race," Blacker said. With such past participants as Bob Baffert, Steve Asmussen, and Todd Pletcher taking a pass on Saudi 2025, McPeek, Summers, and Blacker make up three-fourths of the United States training delegation. The only other American involved is Florida-based trainer Jose D'Angelo, who sends out Gold Square's Howard Wolowitz for the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T). "He shipped in here perfect and he usually adapts quickly, so everything was good," D'Angelo said a day out from the race. "That is the key for these kind of races overseas." While the visitors appreciated the benefits of worldwide competition, organizers appreciated the visitors. "I think you could argue that since the first Saudi Cup, every single meeting we've had has been special," said Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, at the post-position draw. "We've had the pleasure of welcoming very, very special horses. … It gives me a lot of pleasure to see these kinds of horses and connections come out to this part of the world and compete. "And hopefully, hopefully, have a wonderful time."