The owners of Flood Zone have their bases covered for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The 3-year-old bay colt already has 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points from his victory in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on March 1 – enough to get him into the Run for the Roses on May 3.
On Saturday, the bay colt owned by Wathnan Racing, operated by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, can finish atop to Euro/Mideast road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a strong effort in Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
“Hopefully, he runs well, comes out of it well, and we'll fly right back to Churchill," said trainer Brad Cox, who already has a Kentucky Derby contender in Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street.
A field of nine is set for the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16 miles) UAE Derby, which Japan has won breds the past three years, with Forever Young taking last year’s edition. Now 4 and winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in February, Forever Young is the favorite in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) later in the card.
Flood Zone, bred in Florida, broke his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream Park in his second start and was purchased privately by Wathnan Racing. He then won the Gotham, and the owners decided to take a shot at the UAE Derby, a 6,800-mile journey that could wind up with a 7,400-mile return trip to Churchill Downs. He’s the 9-5 favorite over Shin Forever, the top Japan entry at 3-1. Florent Geroux has the call from post 5.
To make things more interesting, the filly Queen Azteca takes on the boys with a possible start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) or the Derby, depending on Saturday’s results.
The UAE Derby awards Kentucky Derby points of 100-50-25-15-10 to the first five finishers. Winner of the UAE Oaks – and 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points – Queen Azteca is 17-2.
In addition to Shin Forever (second in the Saudi Derby), three other Japan-based horses are entered- Don in The Mood, Admire Daytona, and Dragon.
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