Saudi Cup

Dennis Albaugh didn't want to spend $1 million to acquire Thousands Words (Pioneerof the Nile) at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. Albaugh is among the wealthiest people in the sport, but even he has a comfort zone, and says he normally doesn't go beyond $400,000. But, if you want something special, you have to pay for it. And Albaugh and his team of advisors thought Thousand Words was the kind of can't-miss prospect every owner yearns to have. "Normally, we try to find horses in the $200,000 to $400,000 range,"...

Trainer George Baker plundered a significant international prize a fortnight ago when his Wargrave (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took the feature event at Switzerland's St. Moritz White Turf meeting, the Longines 81st Grosser Preis von St Moritz, and the Surrey-based trainer looks to double up with Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the $1-million stc 1351 Cup at Riyadh on Saturday. "We pulled off the first half of the February double up that mountain and I can't wait to see if we can pull off the second half in Saudi Arabia," Baker...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The anticipation continued to build ahead of the $29-million Saudi Cup card, with a large crowd of locals and visitors on hand Thursday to watch contenders gallop over the mammoth King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh two days before the country's biggest-ever day of horse racing. Among the Americans on hand trackside on a chilly morning which quickly turned warmer as the sun rose was West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley and bloodstock agent Bruno DeBerdt. "I've been to Dubai a couple of times, but I was really...

This week, the writers caught up with Dennis Albaugh, who owns two top threats for the Kentucky Derby, Dennis' Moment and Thousand Words. They also relive the racing and breeding career of A.P. Indy, and preview this week's Saudi Cup and the Fountain of Youth.

Godolphin's Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will break from the rail in his attempt to add yet another rich international prize to his roll of honor in Saturday's $2.5-million Longines Turf H. at Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. The 3000 metre event is the richest of the three turf contests on the Saudi Cup card. Cross Counter has over £3.5-million in the bank and looks to build on his victories in the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup and 2019 G2 Dubai Gold Cup while making his first start since...

They traveled thousands of miles to get there, but the four main American contenders will all start within feet of each other in Saturday's inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh after post positions were drawn Wednesday evening in Saudi Arabia. Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's champion filly Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) will break from post six, while 2019 champion 3-year-old Maximum Security (New Year's Day) will break from post seven and Bob Baffert stablemates Mucho Gusto (Much Macho Man) and McKinzie (Street Sense)...

They traveled thousands of miles to get there, but the four main American contenders will all start within feet of each other in Saturday's inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh after post positions were drawn Wednesday evening in Saudi Arabia. Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's champion filly Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) will break from post six, while 2019 champion 3-year-old Maximum Security (New Year's Day) will break from post seven and Bob Baffert stablemates Mucho Gusto (Much Macho Man) and McKinzie (Street Sense)...

Live coverage of the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup from the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia airs Saturday, Feb. 29 at noon Eastern on FS1. Featuring a strong U.S. presence with Maximum Security (New Year's Day), Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), McKinzie (Street Sense), Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) and Tacitus (Tapit) scheduled to compete, the nine-furlong event is the world's richest race. FOX Sports is the exclusive broadcast provider of The Saudi Cup in the United States, where the telecast will air from noon-1:00 p.m. Eastern with limited commercial...

Gladiator King (Curlin), winner of the 2019 GIII Hutcheson S. for trainer Jaime Mejia and his Thoroughbred Champions Training Center, was purchased privately and relocated to Dubai last summer. After scoring back-to-back group wins at Meydan in January for new owner Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi and trainer Satish Seemar, the 4-year-old ex-pat ships to Riyadh to face off against the speedy American Imperial Hint (Imperialism) in Saturday's Saudia Sprint. "Gladiator King arrived to us in July," Seemar, who will also send out Saudi Cup contender North America (GB)...

MG1SW Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been given the green light to run in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup this weekend. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor let the Godolphin colourbearer take his chance on dirt for the first time at Meydan earlier this month, and his flag-bearer responded with a comfortable success in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 on Feb. 6. Following that victory, the decision whether to take him to the $20-million race in Riyadh was left to owner Sheikh Mohammed --and he has given the go-ahead. "Yes, Benbatl...

When Maximum Security (New Year's Day) touched down in Saudi Arabia last week, a new chapter began for the horse that had a star-crossed 2019. On Saturday, he will face the stiffest challenge of his career in the inaugural running of the $20-million Saudi Cup. It's a race that will answer a lot of questions, but don't be surprised if the end result is an emphatic win from last year's 3-year-old male champion. While Maximum Security had a strong 3-year-old campaign, his year was remembered more for what didn't happen...

Jose Ortiz and Luca Panici will both be sidelined for several weeks. Ortiz fractured his wrist Saturday after being unseated by Atone (Into Mischief) in the post parade of race three. He climbed back aboard and rode the race, but was off his mounts the rest of the day. He will be forced to miss the call aboard Tacitus (Tapit) in the $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29. Panici fractured his collarbone Friday afternoon when he was thrown from Terrible Tara (Revolutionary) in race 10 after she hit the rail. He...