The $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) is Saturday, Feb. 14, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and US Racing is publishing profiles of all the contenders.
Bishops Bay is another son of Uncle Mo set to start in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and the 6-year-old bay is coming off a win in the Cigar Mile (G2) in what was his first start for his new connections, who purchased him for an eye-popping $1.3 million out of the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age sale three months ago shortly after winning the Forty Niner Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.
He was previously owned by a conglomerate that included some of the biggest names in racing, such as Spendthrift Farm, WinStar Farm, and Michael Dubb.
Now owned by KAS Stables, a Saudi Arabian-based horse racing ownership group, he remained in the capable hands of trainer Brad Cox and had been training in Florida at Payson Park, where he posted a series of impressive workouts over the last two months in preparation for his trip to the Middle East.
He’s definitely a top contender here, especially underneath in exactas and trifectas, but whether he can run with the likes of Japan’s Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young and other Grade 1 winners like Nevada Beach and Nysos for Bob Baffert, remains to be seen. He’s also questionable at the 1 1/8-mile distance, mostly for lack of experience. No bet.
Notes: This marks Brad Cox’s fourth attempt at the world’s richest race — he’s come close before (third with Saudi Crown in 2024) but is still seeking his first win… Bishops Bay has never lost with jockey Flavien Prat aboard … Dam Catch My Drift is a stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed… she also produced Catching Freedom (by Constitution), a stakes winner and one-time Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
