J Stables, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Summer, Summers, Kisber and Summers’ Mind Your Biscuits, the 5/2 favorite in the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), heads a five horse contingent of OBS graduates participating in Saturday’s Dubai World Cup card at Meydan Race Course. Breaking from post 14, he comes into the race off a sharp second in the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) after earning his grade one stripes with a half length victory over Sharp Azteca in Santa Anita’s Malibu Stakes (G1) in December. It was the second graded stakes victory for the now 4-year-old colt by Posse, winner of Saratoga’s Amsterdam Stakes (G2) in July. Trained by Chad Summers, he’s now 14-4-6-2 and has earned $815,166 to date. Consigned by SBM Training and Sales, Agent, to the 2015 OBS April Sale, he turned in an eighth in :10 3/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
He’ll be joined in the gate by Yu Long & Team Cheval’s Wild Dude, acquired privately from Jerry Hollendorfer and Green Smith after going over the million dollar mark in earnings winning Santa Anita’s Kona Gold Stakes (G2) last May, breaking from post three in the field of 14. A five time graded stakes winner, the 7-year-old Florida-bred son of Wildcat Heir is now 27-8-5-6 with $1,138,732 in earnings. A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold first by Perrone Sales, Agent, at the 2010 Fall Mixed Sale and before he was resold for $42,000 by Costanzo Sales at the 2012 April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Altamira Racing Stable and David A. Bernsen’s St. Joe Bay, who has drawn post 11 in the Golden Shaheen, comes into the race off has second straight stakes win, a 2-1/4 victory in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. It was the third straight win for the 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Saint Anddan, trained by Peter Miller, now 21-5-5-3 with $377,175 in earnings. A two time OBS graduate, he was consigned by Bobby Jones Equine LLC, Agent to the 2013 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $60,000 out of the Bobby Dodd consignment at the 2014 June Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video
The Golden Shaheen (G1) has been captured five times by OBS alumni. March Sale graduate Caller One took back to back renewals in 2001 and 2002 followed by February Sale graduate Saratoga County in 2005. In 2009 it was Big City Man, who went through the ring in August and January, and in 2015 it was two time Breeders’ Cup winner Secret Circle, a March Sale graduate.
Gelfenstein Farm’s Sharp Azteca is the 9/5 favorite in the first race on the World Cup card, the $1-million Godolphin Mile (G2). He comes into the race off a runaway victory in the $350,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) in February under Edgard Zayas, again given the riding assignment by trainer Jorge Navarro. The 4-year-old colt by Freud, now 10-5-3-0 with $576,740 in earnings, is a two time OBS graduate, sold first by Select Sales at the 2014 August Sale. He was then purchased for $220,000 at the 2015 April Sale by Gelfenstein Farm from de Meric Sales, Agent for Golden Legacy Stables, after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch his under tack video
Al Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm LLC and China Horse Club’s Master Plan comes into the $2-million UAE Derby (G2) off his 2-1/2 length victory in the OBS Championship Stakes in January. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he’ll break from post two in a field 16 under John Velazquez, who was aboard in Ocala. The 3-year-old colt by Twirling Candy was purchased by his owners for $850,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2016 March Sale after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. He’s now 4-2-1-0 and has earned $97,490. watch his under tack video
He’ll be joined in the gate by Sh. Mohammed bin Kalifa Al Maktoum’s Fawree, breaking from post six. The Candy Ride (ARG) colt has won of three starts for trainer Michael de Kock. He was purchased for $240,000 out of the Thoroughbred Champions Training Center LLC consignment at the 2016 April Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 15. watch his under tack video
Racing fans can watch and wager on the Dubai World Cup card at OBS-ITW, beginning with the Dubai Gold Cup, set for 8:50 a.m. EST on Saturday. The gates will open at 8:30 a.m.