Monday, March 28, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.
Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.
While Americans are paying record prices at the gas pumps here in the good old USA, our equine patriots got at least some of that stipend back from the oil-rich Persian Gulf region over the weekend.
On a warm desert night halfway around the world, early Saturday morning here in Las Vegas, a pair of stateside equines wrote another chapter in American racing history.
In the United Arab Emirates, nestled a scud away from the Iraqi democracy efforts, a remote but state-of-the-art racing emporium sits in the city of Dubai. Nad Al Sheba race course is the playground for the ruling family of Sheikh Mohammed, a shining jewel in the Arabian night.
Each year, the Sheikh and his family ante up some of that record gas pump money. Their version of the Breeders' Cup is a series of six races run as the Dubai World Cup card. And, of course, like the Breeders' Cup, a classic 1 1/4-mile event for the older horses is the centerpiece of the event.
Crude is good. The series this year was worth $15 million, with the $6 million value of the Dubai World Cup as the richest race in the world for the handicap division. Horses from all over the world meet at Dubai on the final weekend of March going for the gold. The card is run under lights to allow more comfort for man and horse, shielding mid-80s temperatures for the high 60s.
As in the past nine runnings, the Dubai World Cup featured several American runners. This year, Roses In May was the lead flag-bearer while Congrats, Choctaw Nation and Lundy's Liability rounded out the red-white-and-blue foursome. Although there were representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa and host site United Arab Emirates, half of the dozen starters were bred in the USA.
Congrats was fresh from a runner-up effort to stablemate Rock Hard Ten in the Santa Anita Handicap, while Choctaw Nation and San Antonio Handicap winner Lundy's Liability were coming in from off-the-board efforts in recent stakes races at Santa Anita. Roses In May, however, was sitting on a victory.
Almost immediately after his runner-up effort to Ghostzapper in the October 30 Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park, owner Kenneth Ramsey had mapped out a Dubai journey for their 5-year-old son of Devil His Due. Although the Classic was his only defeat from six starts last year, Roses In May was shut out from an Eclipse Award off of that lone loss. So, the Ramseys were on a mission for this year.
Roses In May prepped with another runner-up effort in the February 5 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park at the hands of Saint Liam in early February. But, his early arrival and pent-up training at Nad Al Sheba all came together on Saturday.
Under regular rider John Velazquez, Roses In May attended the early pace before turning the Dubai World Cup into his own commercial for early Horse Of The Year consideration. The margin of victory was three measured lengths against Dynever, who now runs for Saudi Arabia, while Choctaw Nation finished third. Velazquez and Roses in May became the fifth American team to win the Dubai World Cup, joining Cigar, who won the inaugural running in 1996, followed by Silver Charm in 1998, Captain Steve in 2001 and Pleasantly Perfect last year.
Only Saratoga Country accounted for another American win on the night. Winning the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at a straight-away six furlongs, the son of Valid Expectations won his fourth race in a row.
Sheikh Mohammad's Godolphin Racing, Inc., unleashed a Kentucky Derby entrant from Dubai in the UAE Derby, although not the one they expected. Europe's juvenile champion Shamardal made his sophomore debut after a trio of impressive lifetime victories at two. But his coming-out party turned into a bust, as stablemate Blues And Royals ran away with the Derby prize.
While Proud Accolade disappointed in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher, his Flower Alley won the Lane's End Stakes later on the card. Proud Accolade's poor performance took him off the Kentucky Derby trail while Flower Alley now goes on.
Trainer Nick Zito reported High Fly, this weekend's Florida Derby favorite, missed a scheduled workout on Saturday because he pitched a slight temperature. Zito's other Florida Derby starter, Noble Causeway, however, worked a solid five furlongs at Palm Meadows for the engagement.
Trainer John Servis said Rockport Harbor's right hind foot flared up again on Friday, prompting the conditioner to call in blacksmith Ian McKinlay from New York to do what the trainer called some corrective work on the colt. Servis insists that Rockport Harbor remains on schedule for the April 16 Arkansas Derby.
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