Columnist Ralph Siraco: Dubai World Cup could separate top horses

Ralph Siraco

Monday, March 24, 2003 | 9:13 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

The center of the racing world will interestingly be in the Middle East this weekend as the Dubai World Cup will be just a few hundred miles from the borders of the War on Iraq.

A little country known as the United Arab Emirates hosts the world's richest day of racing with more than $15 million in stakes races on the Saturday card. The centerpiece World Cup has a purse of $6 million and will feature American runner Harlan's Holiday. Thirteen horses from the United States shipped to the region before the conflict started.

Other American runners are scheduled to start in the Dubai Duty Free, Golden Sheehan, Sheema Classic, Godolphin Mile and the UAE Derby. The latter, raced at the distance of 1 1/4 miles, is the final test for Godolphin Racing's Inamorato to punch his ticket to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.

Jack Wolf, owner of Donn Handicap winner Harlan's Holiday, said there is natural apprehension for traveling to that part of the world considering the situation.

Wolf also said that the U.S. and British governments are not yet prohibiting citizens from going to Dubai. But, he says, "They are telling them to keep a low profile."

The U.S. contingent of horses made a 19-hour plane flight to Dubai March 15 without incident. Wolf said he wasn't nervous about the trip, but instead, is nervous about running for $6 million.

Let's hope it stays that way.

The Dubai World Cup card will be simulcast to select Las Vegas race books Saturday morning at 7 a.m. Because betting is not permitted in the Dubai culture, wagering will be conducted through a U.S. pari-mutuel pool.

After the retirements of early future book favorite Vindication, Composure and the disappointing effort by Domestic Dispute, Baffert's hope for a repeat Kentucky Derby victory lies on the flanks of Louisiana Derby runner-up Kafwain, who makes his final Kentucky Derby tune-up in the Santa Anita Derby April 5 with a new pilot. Jockey Victor Espinoza, who won the Kentucky Derby on War Emblem for Baffert and owner Thoroughbred Corporation last year, has been fired off Kafwain for his poor ride in the Louisiana Derby. Although Baffert has not officially named his replacement, jockey Pat Valenzuela worked the son of Cherokee Run recently and is said to have the inside track.