While the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) Feb. 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse feature American-trained or -owned runners, other races on the Saudi Cup undercard also include notable representatives from the United States.
Outside of the Saudi Cup and Saudi Derby, the top American hopes lie in the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2), a dash over 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in which the U.S.-based Imagination, Just Beat the Odds, and Lovesick Blues are leading contenders.
Imagination is the early favorite with British bookmakers in advance wagering and is also likely to command most of the public's support in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool on race day, ahead of Japanese shipper American Stage and Lovesick Blues. Both Imagination and Lovesick Blues travel from California to Saudi Arabia.
Imagination, an Into Mischief 5-year-old horse trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, won last fall's Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) before finishing second in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar in his most recent start. He is 3-6-2 in 14 starts with earnings of $943,700 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Bob Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Mia Familia Racing Stable's Lovesick Blues also exits the Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished sixth. The California-bred gelded son of Grazen won the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) last summer for trainer Librado Barocio.
Donna Wright's Just Beat the Odds, meanwhile, has prepped with workouts this winter at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Gregg Sacco for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. An effective fresh-running sprinter by Munnings , he returns to action after winning the Dec. 6 Elite Power Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Riyadh Dirt Sprint is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, providing the winner with a paid, automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Sprint this fall at Keeneland.
Horses from other countries seemingly hold the upper hand in the three major grass races on the card: the $3 million Neom Turf Cup (G1T), the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap (G2T), and the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T).
Defending Neom Turf Cup winner Shin Emperor, representing Japan, heads the Neom Turf Cup, which was elevated from group 2 to group 1 status this year.
No American-trained runners are in the 2,100-meter (about 1 5/16-mile) Neom Turf Cup or the 3,000-meter (about 1 7/8-mile) Red Sea Turf Handicap, but Neom Turf Cup participant Facteur Cheval has U.S. ownership ties, racing for Team Valor International and Gary Barber.
Reef Runner, Zio Jo, and Time to Dazzle are U.S.-trained outsiders competing in the 1351 Turf Sprint, which is contested over the unique distance of 1,351 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs). Lazzat and Panja Tower are the anticipated favorites there.
