Asiatic Boy, Gloria de Campeao in prime US tests>>

August 06, 2009>>

Two runners who established their international reputations in Dubai will try to add to their resumes this weekend in the United States, with 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy the co-highweight in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (Gr.1) at Saratoga Race Course and this year’s Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) runner-up Gloria de Campeao considered a strong contender in the $1 million Arlington Million Stakes (Gr.1) on the turf at Arlington Park.>>

Asiatic Boy has finished second in both his American starts, the Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs, in which he was the victim of traffic trouble in the stretch, and the Suburban Handicap (Gr.2) at Belmont Park. However, the 2008 Dubai World Cup runner-up is by far the leading earner in the Whitney field with $3,276,130 to his credit. The Whitney is a key race for older dirt runners in America; past winners include 2005 Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May and ‘07 World Cup winner Invasor.>>

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had wanted an inside post for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum’s Asiatic Boy in the 1 1/8-mile contest and was happy to get just that in Wednesday’s draw.>>

“I’m happy to be in the two hole and not having to go over from the five hole,” said McLaughlin, who is hoping there will be a lively pace for Asiatic Boy to run at down the stretch. Jockey Alan Garcia will be aboard Asiatic Boy, a six-year-old Argentine-bred by Not for Sale who has been assigned 121 pounds along with speedy two-time Whitney winner Commentator, who will break from the outside in the field of seven.>>

The weight given to Asiatic Boy is, somewhat surprisingly, two pounds more than Stephen Foster winner Macho Again and four more than Suburban winner Dry Martini.>>

Meanwhile, Stefan Friborg’s Gloria de Campeao will be taking on two of America’s best turf runners in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million: favored Gio Ponti, who is on a three-race Grade 1 win streak, and Einstein, who has captured five Grade 1 events, including four on turf. Another American-based entrant, Presious Passion, has notched two Grade 1 wins on grass.>>

Also highly regarded in the nine-horse field is Teruya Yoshida’s Cima de Triomphe, the 2008 Derby Italiano (Gr.1) winner who defeated Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) winner and champion Conduit earlier this year in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Gr.3).>>

Gloria de Campeao, who drew post seven, is coming off the two best efforts of his career, triumphing in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1) following his second-place in the Dubai World Cup.>>

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Cocoa Beach survives inquiry for first win of 2009>>

August 06, 2009>>

Godolphin’s Cocoa Beach, one of the most versatile fillies in the world last year while winning two UAE classic races and earning Grade 1 wins in America on dirt and turf, scored her first victory of 2009 when she rallied to beat My Baby Baby by a neck in the US$73,850 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.>>

But the Chilean-bred five-year-old by Doneraile Court had to be approved by the stewards after jockeys Robby Albarado aboard My Baby Baby and Jose Lezcano on fourth-placed Grande Annee claimed foul. Cocoa Beach veered inward in the upper stretch as she was beginning to make a run from fourth in the early going.>>

“I was a little bit worried because she did shift in,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who noted that Cocoa Beach did the same thing in her only previous start this year, a disappointing fourth-place effort at Belmont Park. >>

“(Jockey) Ramon (Dominguez) said it looked worse than it really was. She started laying in a little bit turning for home. Once she straightened out on the right lead, she went pretty straight. I think it was a pretty good race,” Mettee added.>>

Although Albarado claimed foul, My Baby Baby was able to get a jump on Cocoa Beach and opened up a half-length advantage in the stretch but could not repel the Godolphin filly’s onslaught as Dominguez went to the whip. >>

After early fractions of :23.14 and :45.92 set by Lucky Copy, who faded to last, Cocoa Beach crossed the finish line in 1:34.95 on the firm turf. The victory marked her third in three starts on grass and boosted her career earnings to $1,700,395.>>

Mettee said he is not sure when or where Cocoa Beach will run next.>>

“We can do a lot of things with her off this,” Mettee said. “She can stay on the grass. She can go on the dirt. She can go on the Polytrack. She can do a lot of things.”>>

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Well Armed, Kip Deville to be evaluated>>

August 06, 2009>>

Trainers of both Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) winner Well Armed and Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1) starter Kip Deville have indicated they are perplexed about why their charges disappointed in Sunday stakes races.>>

While Well Armed might still be pointed at the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (Gr.1) at Del Mar after finishing last in the San Diego Handicap (Gr.2) at that track, Kip Deville will be given a veterinary diagnostic examination following his eighth-place finish in the Fourstardave Handicap (Gr.2) at Saratoga Race Course.>>

Eoin Harty, who conditions Well Armed for WinStar Farm, told Daily Racing Form that the gelding’s performance was a “big surprise” to him.

“I thought he’d be right there,” he added.>>

“It just proves that these are horses not machines,” said Harty’s assistant, Oliver Costello, who accompanied Well Armed to Dubai. “We’ll regroup and decide how we want to play it. We’re not discounting him in the Pacific Classic.”>>

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said he has taken IEAH Stables’ and partners’ Kip Deville, a multiple Grade 1 winner who captured the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr.1), out of training. The six-year-old gelding was to be given a nuclear scan to see if he has any physical problems after finishing unplaced for the third consecutive time, which he has never done before in his remarkably consistent 30-race career.>>

“We don’t know, but I think something’s (wrong),” Dutrow said.

>Kip Deville has been retired.  ST-S

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