The $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) is March 30 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The race is for 4-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on dirt. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders.

DERMA SOTOGAKE

On paper, Derma Sotogake looked like a serious contender in the $20 million Saudi Cup. But before he even arrived in Riyadh, he suffered a freakish eye injury. “He and another horse fought on the plane,” trainer Hidetaka Otonashi said. “He’s OK now.”

The eye problem, which put his status for the race in doubt, was the colt’s latest run-in with the racing gods. After a creditable sixth in the Kentucky Derby despite a bad start, minor injuries kept him from getting in a prep race for last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bettors gave him little chance, but 26-1 shot Derma Sotogake ran a strong second to White Abarrio.

“That was a six-month break,” Otonashi said. “If he had one race [in between], the result would have been changed.”

Despite the eye injury, handicappers made Derma Sotogake the 5-1 second favorite in the Saudi Cup, behind only 7-5 White Abarrio. The Japanese shipper never looked like a winner, though, rallying briefly on the outside in mid-stretch before fading meekly to fifth.

“My horse didn’t leave that quick,” jockey Christophe Lemaire said. “I was at the back of the leaders in the final straight and I thought I could come with a big run to win, but he just couldn’t finish it.”

Maybe this time, with a race under his belt, Derma Sotogake will move forward and make his breakthrough.

Betting advice: Don’t let his unimpressive Saudi Cup throw you off Derma Sotogake. Running second in the Classic after a long layoff was a testament to his talent, and he dominated the UAE Derby last year at Meydan. He can win, and his odds will be more generous than they should be.

2024 Dubai World Cup Contender: Derma Sotogake

Post position: 8

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi

Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma

Age: 4

Career record: 11-4-1-2

Career earnings: $3,182,164

Most recent race: Saudi Cup, Jan. 27 (5th)

Top Equibase speed figure: 115

Pedigree: Mind Your Biscuits-Amour Poesie (JPN), by Neo Universe (JPN)

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notes: Derma Sotogake’s sire, New York-bred Mind Your Biscuits, made his mark as a world-class sprinter in the United States and Dubai. Besides winning the 6-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2017 and 2018, he took the Grade 1 Malibu and ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Cigar Mile … Derma Sotogake gets his stamina from his mother’s side. Amour Poesie was only 1-for-6 on the track, but her sire, Neo Universe, won the 1¼-mile Japanese Derby. He’s by super stallion Sunday Silence, who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic.