Embattled trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Frankie Dettori each enjoyed a fourth victory in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) Saturday at Meydan Racecourse, with the latter timing his ride to perfection aboard the game Country Grammer.
Baffert, who is embroiled in ongoing legal battles following the disqualification of Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1), had Country Grammer prepared to perfection.
The Saudi Cup (G1) runner-up Feb. 26, Country Grammer hunted down longtime leader Life Is Good in the final furlong of the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) dirt contest to win by a 1 ¾ lengths in 2:04.97 on a fast track.
Country Grammer, a 5-year-old son of Tonalist, has 4-2-1 record from 10 career starts. Saturday's victory marked his second graded or group 1 win; he took the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) last May, then was off 270 days prior to his second in the Saudi Cup upon his return to racing.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Life Is Good set the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr., with Steve Asmussen's charge Midnight Bourbon taking close orders.
Turning for home, Ortiz asked Life Is Good for an extra effort and started to kick clear. However, Country Grammer was not finished, and with Dettori urging him along the straight, he took command as Life Is Good faded into fourth. The rallying Hot Rod Charlie claimed second for Doug O'Neill with Flavien Prat up, while Ryuji Okubo's Chuwa Wizard, who was runner-up in last year's edition of the race, was a further half-length behind in third.
Amr Zedan, owner of Medina Spirit and co-owner of Country Grammer with WinStar Farm and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, said: “I mean, I don't have any voice left after that! It was a project – we picked the horse and he has come here in the care of the best trainer in the world in Bob Baffert. Deep down in my gut I knew we had a shot. I have huge respect for all the others, especially Life Is Good who I know intimately as he used to train with Country Grammer when he was with Baffert.
“This win reminds me of Medina Spirit,” Zedan continued. “He was a champion and these horses are all heart. I hope Medina Spirit is reinstalled as the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, God willing. I can't believe I'm sitting here and my silks are here!
“I am just very thankful to the entire team and Frankie, who gave him a perfect ride. He is one of the best, if not the best. Results speak louder than words. A trainer of that caliber is bound to produce such results. I am just dedicating this race to him.”
Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer to Bob Baffert, said: “It's been a long trip, Frankie just rode him awesome. He couldn't have done any better. The speed worked out just as we thought it would, he put him in a close enough spot that when he called upon him, he's a true mile-and-a-quarter horse and it kicked in. I give a lot of credit to Bob Baffert for his ability to come back and perform, it's what we do, we're great off a lay-off. I'm just so excited. I was here when Arrogate won the Dubai World Cup, so this is my second with Bob and it is very, very special.”
Frankie Dettori, who first won the Dubai World Cup for Godolphin aboard the great Dubai Millennium in 2000, said: “I have equaled Jerry Bailey now. All my other three wins came on the Nad Al Sheba track so it's nice to have a winner at Meydan.
“When the draw came out, I had just wanted to put him on the fence. At the half-mile, I wasn't able to keep on with the front two but in the end they came back to me. At the furlong pole, it was surreal as I knew I was going to win. It's just unbelievable. It's like a dream!”
Produced by the Forestry mare Arabian Song, Country Grammer was bred in Kentucky by Scott and Debbie Pierce.
Doug O'Neill, trainer of runner-up Hot Rod Charlie, said: “He had a great run and congratulations to Bob Baffert for getting his horse ready the way he did. We're super proud, Leandro Mora and all the guys have been here the whole time and they've done a great job.
“We wanted to win of course but we're super proud and mid-race we were thinking it just wasn't Charlie's day. He then re-engaged and got up for second so it was a great night.”
“These are one of the few times that you wish horses could talk,” O'Neill continued. ”I think maybe blinkers might need to go back on – he broke okay but then when he got behind horses, maybe that was it. (Jockey) Flavien (Prat) said he took the kickback pretty well though, so we'll re-group and we'll give him plenty of time now and we'll huddle up and think of a game plan.”
Prat said Hot Rod Charlie broke well.
“I got myself into the rail,” he said. “Then we were travelling really well down the far side and he then needed to dig in and we got a nice run down the lane.”
Yuga Kawada, rider of third-placed Chuwa Wizard, said: “It was a good place. He was second last year and this year he was third so it was a very strong race and a very good run. He's matched last year's performance today and we're very happy.”
4th – Life Is Good, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr said: “We led like we wanted. It was just the distance. The extra distance told.”
5th – Midnight Bourbon, jockey Jose Ortiz said: “We raced on the pace in second. I was disappointed with how he finished.”
6th – Remorse, jockey Tadhg O'Shea said: “Great credit to him for that run. He came under pressure a fair way out but he kept responding for me.”
7th – Hypothetical, jockey Mickael Barzalona said: “I'm very happy with his run. He was still there at the turn but in the end he was beaten by better horses.”
8th – Aero Trem, jockey Vagner Leal said: “He didn't run like he did in Saudi. He wasn't the same.”
9th – Real World, jockey Christophe Soumillon said: “He didn't handle the dirt.”
10th – Magny Cours, jockey William Buick said: “He was never going.”
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