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.
LAUREL RIVER
Laurel River
With a Bob Baffert background and a victory over the Meydan Racecourse, horseplayers would be wise not to overlook this 6-year-old son of Into Mischief.
Baffert, for one, isn’t.
“He’s a really talented horse,’’ said the Hall of Fame trainer, who sends out Newgate in the Dubai World Cup. “A top caliber horse.’’
After winning the 2022 Pat O’Brien (G2) by 3 ¾ lengths at Del Mar, boosting his record to 7-4-1-0 for Baffert, Laurel River did not race again until this year.
He reappeared in Dubai, returned to the races on Jan. 26, and ran seventh in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) for new trainer (and former Baffert assistant) Bhupart Seemar.
He returned to his winning ways in the Burj Nahaar (G3) at 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) on March 2. Laurel River moved to an early lead and kicked away in the stretch to win by 6 ¾ lengths.
“We weren’t disappointed the last time,” winning jockey Tadhg O’Shea said. “But they’re racehorses and not computers. Sometimes they just need a run to get back on their ‘A’ game.
“He’s a high-class horse and, to be fair to him, he hadn’t run in 18 months when we ran him over six furlongs … Hats off to Bhupat and the team and to Juddmonte for keeping the faith with him.”
Betting advice: Don’t think he can run 1 ¼ miles with this bunch, and it’s hard to tell whether he’s up for such a test.
“There’s $12million reasons to try!”@bhupatseemar on LAUREL RIVER and his #DWC24 runners
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 24, 2024
2024 Dubai World Cup Contender: Laurel River
Post position: 12
Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea
Trainer: Bhupart Seemar
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Age: 6
Career record: 9-5-1-0
Career earnings: $510,676
Most recent race: Al Shindagha Sprint (G3), March 2, (1st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 114
Pedigree: Into Mischief-Calm Water, by Empire Maker
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notes: After his most recent win, the decision was made to pass on the Godolphin Mile (G2) on March 30 in favor of the 1 ¼-mile Dubai World Cup, a distance Laurel River has not dealt with. Garrett O’Rourke, the manager for Juddmonte’s operation in the U.S., told the Thoroughbred Daily News “It’s worth a try. There’s 12 million reasons to do it.”