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Knicks Go, Charlatan Battle in the Desert

Knicks Go (Paynter) and Charlatan (Speightstown), a pair of major forces headlining the American racing scene in 2020, take on 12 others in Saturday's $20-million Saudi World Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both Grade I winners in their latest starts, the pair represent two of America's leading trainers, Brad Cox, who took home his first Eclipse Award last season, and Bob Baffert, a 2020 finalist who had previously annexed four training titles.

Knicks Go, winner of the 2018 GI Breeders' Futurity S. while under the care of Ben Colebrook, marked his debut for Cox and Korea Racing Authority in 2020 with a victory in an 8 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Oaklawn last February. Off for the ensuing seven months, the grey romped by 10 1/4 lengths in a Keeneland optional claimer in October before posting an emphatic win in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at the Lexington oval Nov. 7. Well supported for his 2021 bow in the Jan. 23 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream, the Maryland bred once again proved best, winning by 2 3/4 lengths.

Knicks Go was keen during a 1600-meter gallop Friday morning under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas.

“He loves to train and is so difficult to handle sometimes,” Dugas said. “But he has a lot of talent, obviously, and is sitting on a big race. He's very, very fast and is extremely tough.”

It wouldn't be a big-money event without a Baffert-conditioned runner, and the Hall of Fame trainer is represented by the lightly-raced Charlatan in the latest renewal of the nine-furlong Saudi Cup. In his latest work prior to leaving the U.S., the chestnut completed seven furlongs in 1:24.60 at Santa Anita Feb. 7.

“[Charlatan] is doing well,” Baffert told the TDN. “He has a great mind and is getting over the track well. We feel good about our chances, but they still have to get around there. I love the way he worked when he left here. I didn't do much with him there, just a light little half [mile]. He was ready to run.”

An impressive winner in his first two starts at Santa Anita last winter, the SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Racing and Stonestreet Stables runner finished first but was demoted to ninth after testing positive for a banned substance in the May 2 GI Arkansas Derby before being forced to the sidelines with a minor ankle injury. The colt returned to action with a brilliant score in the Dec. 26 GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita.

Accompanied by Mike Smith, Charlatan drew post 9, while Knicks Go–who will be partnered by Joel Rosario–will exit stall five.

“He has to break well, but he has a nice post,” said Baffert. “Knicks Go is in there [and] Charlatan likes a target. [In the Malibu], he had [SW] Nashville [Speightstown] as his target and that worked out alright. It is a mile-and-an-eighth, but that long stretch gets demanding in the final sixteenth. There are good horses in there.”

No stranger to Riyadh, Prince A A Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was second in last season's Saudi Derby and will try to go one better in this year's Cup.

Jockey David Egan, who was in the irons in the Saudi Derby, has been aboard the 4-year-old for the last three mornings at track work.

“Similar to last year, Mishriff has been thriving since he arrived here in Riyadh,” he said. “He seems to really enjoy the style of training and the surface here in Saudi Arabia. He looks amazing, feels fresh and has been moving fluently up to the race.”

Following his Saudi sojourn, the Irish bred reeled off three consecutive victories over the summer, including Chantilly's G1 Prix du Jockey Club and the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. He finished eighth in his latest start in Newmarket's G1 Qipco Champion S. in October.

“Mishriff looks stronger again since I saw him in Newmarket at the end of last year and he has traveled extremely well,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince A A Faisal. “He has thrived over the winter. He looks well and ready for the race.”

He added, “David said he changed legs easily going into the turns and was a natural from that point of view. We're looking forward to the race.”

Japan offers a worthy contender in Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Last December's G1 Champions Cup winner enjoyed an easy canter on the dirt track before a gate-schooling session Friday.

“He shipped to Dubai last year [for the Dubai World Cup Carnival], but had to fly back to Japan due to the cancellation of the race meetings. I think the travel experiences helped him a lot this time,” explained trainer Ryuji Okubo. “Last year, he lost 10 kg during the trip to Dubai, but this year he only lost 4 kg when he flew into Saudi Arabia. He is enjoying it here and is feeling really good. He is a very straightforward horse.”

Asked about his charge's inside post position, Okubo added, “He will start from barrier one, so we can make ground all the way through the race. I understand the American horses are very fast, but I expect Chuwa Wizard can track them and overtake them with his strong closing speed.”

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Impressive Maiden Winners Begin to Take ‘Charge’ in Stall Barn

As former stable star and popular GISW Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) gets his career at stud underway at WinStar Farm, a pair of flashy 3-year-old maiden winners and an emotional stakes victory have helped propel the 2021 season for veteran trainer Al Stall, Jr.

“Trying to fill the shoes of horses like Blame and Tom's d'Etat are awfully tough,” said Stall, who trained the former to a heart-stopping victory over Zenyatta in the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

“When horses like that leave the barn to go to Claiborne Farm and WinStar Farm, you're very happy for the horse that they're going to such a nice place with a potentially good career ahead of them. As far as the void goes, you just keep on getting up every morning and hope that one of the younger horses steps up or an older horse develops late. Hopefully, these two or some others can help fill the void that was left in the barn.”

One of “these two”–Carribean Caper (f, 3, Speightstown–Checkupfromzneckup, by Dixie Union)–kicked off Saturday's loaded, 13-race GII Risen Star S. program at Fair Grounds with a geared-down, eight-length, tour-de-force to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod at first asking in the six-furlong opener (video).

The Columbine Stable colorbearer, a $250,000 Keeneland September graduate, was always traveling smartly pressing the early leader after breaking on top, took over as they straightened for home and ran up the score under confident handling in the stretch to win for fun. She earned a very strong 87 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Breeder WinStar Farm paid $825,000 for the stakes-placed Checkupfromzneckup carrying Carribean Caper in utero at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale.

Carribean Caper hails from the extended female family of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, the dam of the legendary A.P. Indy, Classic winner Summer Squall, et al.

“We always liked her,” Stall said. “She had a respiratory issue at the end of 2020–she was ready to run a month and a half ago or so–but we had to back off and just really try to maintain her. She was really ready to run Saturday and broke so sharp and just laid perfectly and galloped away from them. She was pretty professional, which didn't surprise us because she acted that way all along.”

A first-level allowance contest for straight 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on Keeneland's opening day program Apr. 2 could be next.

“She ran awfully fast and we'll give her some time to get over that,” Stall said. “Nothing too dramatic like a stakes race [for her next start]. She's very smart and does everything right. First, we'll just get a little bit more of a foundation underneath her, with hopefully another sprint with a gradual stretchout. Then, we'll see where things land after that.”

He continued, “There's a chance she'll carry her speed. She reminded me of grass from the beginning–I was actually thinking of 5 1/2 [furlongs on grass for her debut]–but I figured she had a really good chance to win on dirt, too. There's a lot of things to look forward to with her.”

The future also looks bright for He's In Charge (c, 3, Candy Ride–Brazen Persuasion, by Indian Charlie), who lit up the tote board at 28-1 with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure at second asking in New Orleans Jan. 30 (video).

Campaigned in partnership by Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Newport Stables, the $180,000 Keeneland September yearling showed some early interest and faded to eighth–beaten 20 3/4 lengths–in one start at two for trainer Ethan West over the all-weather at Turfway Dec. 11. He's In Charge lived up to his name while adding Lasix in his six-furlong dirt debut for Stall.

The rail-drawn Florida-bred sat just off a hot pace in fourth, was locked and loaded awaiting racing room on the far turn and scraped paint in the stretch with a smart inside run to win going away by 3 1/4 expanding lengths.

His speedy dam Brazen Persuasion, winner of the 2013 GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga and a half-sister to recent Ladies H. victress Thankful (American Pharoah) for Todd Pletcher, brought $700,000 from breeder Bridlewood Farm at the 2015 Keeneland November sale.

“He got down to us and he was in good shape–I'm guessing that he just didn't like the Tapeta,” Stall said.

“When we got him, he looked like a nice horse all the way around on dirt. The first couple of breezes, he was all there, and the last couple of breezes, he was really all there. We gave him a little chance in that race–we didn't think 91 Beyer and 1:09 and change [final time] and all that. But we thought he would run a pretty good race.

Stall continued, “His mother was a fast mare that Steve Asmussen had early in her career and I also trained her later. He's also a good athlete, so hopefully the top side will take him a little further. We'd like to find a one other than here at Fair Grounds in the next book for him. He came out of the race in good shape and he's going to have a little breeze this weekend.”

“We're excited about both of them,” Stall said of Carribean Caper and He's In Charge.

It hit awfully close to home as the Stall-trained 5-year-old mare Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) delivered in Saturday's Albert M. Stall Memorial S.

The race, of course, is named in honor of Stall's father, the former longtime chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission and member of the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame who passed away in 2017.

There were few dry eyes in the winner's circle after the result was finally declared official following a stewards' inquiry and a jockey's objection.

“It was great, and being from here, we had the whole family in town,” Stall said.

“We took the picture, then when [Fair Grounds analyst] Joe Kristufek put that camera in front of me, that's when the emotions just exploded. That makes you feel like you're alive though, rather than just being a robot getting up every day training horses. It was really nice and couldn't have been better. Fairytale as it gets, right?”

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Saudi Cup Notes: Charlatan Should Move Forward From Malibu, Sleepy Eyes Todd ‘Fit And Good’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

Bangkok (IRE) – Andrew Balding's challenger took a first look at the dirt track on Wednesday with some gentle exercise.

Balding's wife and assistant Anna Lisa said: “He didn't do anything really smart today, the plan is that he will do something a bit quicker on Thursday. He went round the dirt and he seemed to enjoy it, he will wear special plates on Saturday, it should not be an excuse.”

Anna Lisa Balding said it would be a significant moment for Bangkok to be carrying the King Power Racing silks of the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh.

“The chairman of King Power said he wanted to race on the world stage, and this is a race you want to be in,” she said. “There are horses in the race that are better than him, it would be great to see him just up and close to them on Saturday.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained son of Speightstown remained in the quarantine area on Wednesday, jogging an easy 1600m (one mile) over the training track.

“We stayed back (in the quarantine area) on the training track this morning,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. “It's our normal routine, we had our breeze day (Monday), walk day (Tuesday) and with the training track being right there we just stayed there. He jogged a mile. Twice around; it's a half-mile track.”

One of the top international contenders for Saturday's race, Charlatan has been here for a week and has settled nicely into his regular routine, according to Barnes.

“He's a very good traveler. That hasn't been any kind of a factor. The weather has been pleasant. It hasn't been hot so that always makes the trip easier. (We've) been here over a week and ready to get it on.

“The rest of the week we will go back to our regular galloping up to a race. We'll gallop a mile and a half tomorrow. We will stay on the main track Thursday and Friday. Not sure what we're doing on race day but I'll talk it over with Bob and see what he wants to do.”

Making only his second start since last May, the 4-year-old colt comes into Saturday's affair off an impressive win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park

“Bob is really good off the layoff,” Barnes said. “Our horses are usually fit and ready. We look forward to him moving forward off that race – absolutely.”

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – With handler Ryui Okubo supervising, the 6-year-old horse had a final piece of fast work over 1200m (six furlongs) on the dirt track under Keita Tosaki.

“I was asked to start galloping him with 1200m to go and drove him a bit strongly towards the end of the stretch,” said Tosaki.

“He was moving nicely and felt really good, responding to me so well. I understand that the American horses are very fast, so I want to make a plan depending on how the tempo in the race will be.

“I think the surface here is quite different from a Japanese dirt track. The dirt itself is smoother than Japan, I think Chuwa Wizard will suit the surface.”

Okubo added: “He moved beautifully this morning. I told the jockey to start cantering slowly from the 1200m pole and then pick up gradually before driving him strongly for the last stage of the stretch. I think he is in really good form. There will be some horses who are going fast in the field, so between middle and outside draw will be preferred.”

Extra Elusive (GB) – The 6-year-old Mastercraftsman gelding had a breeze on the dirt track.

“We are very happy with him,” said Andre Alencar, travelling head lad to Extra Elusive's trainer Roger Charlton. “We took him to the dirt track today and had a little breeze up, a little blow. He feels very good and happy – we can't ask for more. He's doing everything we ask him to.

“He's very relaxed; probably the change of scene has made him more relaxed than usual, and he's coping very well and he's on the right path. He won't go back out on to the main dirt track again now, he'll just stay on the training track.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Brad Cox-trained Knicks Go came out briefly to the dirt track and a one-lap jog in the wrong/clockwise direction along the outside of the track under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas. Owned by Korea Racing Authority, he enters with four consecutive one-sided victories, two in allowance company (at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland), the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup. He will have a five-week gap from the Pegasus to Saturday.

“He's had two good works since the race and seems to be moving well,” Cox said. “He's continued since the Pegasus to show us what he showed us prior to the Pegasus and prior to the Breeders' Cup. This race is back a little quick, but one thing that gives us confidence is that he won the Pegasus without Lasix and this race is without Lasix, too. Another thing is this is five weeks from the Pegasus and it was five weeks between his allowance win where he broke the track record at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup.

“He had a little bit of a freshening of a couple easy weeks after the Breeders' Cup and before the Pegasus, so this is sort of a second race off a layoff for him. Hopefully, after the race, he gives us confidence that he can travel internationally and compete.”

Cox is planning ahead with the 5-year-old grey.

“Right now we're treating him as if this is his time to shine,” Cox continued. “If he's able to do well in the Saudi Cup and then do well in Dubai, that would be very special. If he were able to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Pegasus, Saudi Cup and Dubai, it would be very similar to what Arrogate did with the Travers, the (Breeders' Cup) Classic, Pegasus and Dubai. If he were able to do something like that, it would go down as one of the great streaks in racing history.

“We would try to get through these two and then ship him back to the States and work our way back from the Breeders' Cup after this. Whether that's the Dirt Mile or the Classic, his runs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai will tell us which one, so it's one race at a time.”

Max Player (USA) – The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Honor Code remained in the quarantine area.

Military Law (GB) – Nasir Askar's Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Military Law hand-walked on Wednesday after arriving late on Tuesday evening from Dubai. The gelded 6-year-old son of Dubawi exits an impressive victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 over 1600m (one mile) at Meydan.

“He just hand-walked today and shipped over well,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant trainer.

“We're looking forward to the race with him and we know he can see the distance. There will be pace, which is good. He was fresh last time, so he did well over the mile, but he obviously travels 2000m (1 1/4 miles).

“He was good that day and he has come forward, I think. Hopefully he won't be too far back off the pace. It's hard to come from too far back. We'll gallop him (a blowout breeze) down the stretch on Friday.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB) – Cantered on the dirt track with Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby entry New Treasure. Mishriff was ridden by jockey David Egan and Global Giant by John Gosden's travelling head lad Tony Proctor.

“All three horses had an easy canter today and they are all handling the surface well,” said Gosden's son and assistant, Thady. “They seem to be enjoying themselves. Mishriff was very relaxed around there.”

Simsir (IRE) – Fawzi Nass was on hand to watch Bahrain International Trophy winner Simsir get over the dirt track on Wednesday morning. The trainer and co-owner (through the Bahrain-based Victorious racing stable) was pleased with his easy canter around the oval.

Nass said: “He did his big work in Bahrain on Sunday. All he and my other horses need to do is just 'tick over' and today they cantered about six and a half furlongs. It's their first time on the big track and one or two of them were a bit fresh, which is understandable on a new track, but hopefully they'll be more settled tomorrow. Simsir is doing very well.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – The Miguel Angel Silva trained Sleepy Eyes Todd came onto the dirt track on Wednesday morning where he stood for about 10 minutes before warming up.

Miguel Angel Silva explained: “He always does that. He comes onto the track and first has a look. He then galloped for two rounds. He went a bit faster the second time round. He is fit and good.”

Tacitus (USA) – The 5-year-old son of Tapit came out of Tuesday's 600m (three furlongs) workout over the dirt track “super” according to Neil Poznansky, assistant to trainer Bill Mott and who was aboard Tacitus for Tuesday's drill.

“He jogged a mile on the training track (this morning),” added Poznansky, who was again in the saddle this morning.

Tacitus, who finished fifth in last year's inaugural edition of the Saudi Cup, has been racing well in the United States since that effort and last ran in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland finishing fourth.

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Team Switzerland Hopes To Neutralize Foes In Riaydh Dirt Sprint

When the winner's enclosure cameras flash in Saturday's $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, the team behind Switzerland is fully prepared to say cheese. Carrying the orange and black colors of HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's RRR Racing, the son of Speightstown enters the tough contest as one of the serious players, thanks to a strong score in Meydan's G3 Dubawi on Jan. 21–his third victory at the level and sixth lifetime.

“He came out of the race in great shape,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish Seemar. “For us, that was only his first run–he was with Doug (Watson) before and obviously Steve Asmussen before that–so I can only say what we've seen from him and he's been very good in the mornings at Zabeel (Stables). He's a superb horse in the mornings and a flamboyant galloper. Mickael Barzalona galloped (breezed) him Monday morning and he was really happy with him. He will ride him in Saudi.”

Last year, the same connections entered Gladiator King–also fresh of G3 success in Dubai–to finish a respectable third in this. Gladiator King was astern Switzerland last out, obviously needing the run, but never seriously challenging his banner-mate when the real running commenced.

“I hope he travels well and everything just goes according to plan,” Seemar continued. “I think there are some tough horses in there, but I really like how Switzerland is doing. The really tough ones could be the Japanese, especially Matera Sky, who is very quick and a class horse. He was second in it last year and was second here in the (G1 Dubai Golden) Shaheen. He's fast and will be on the lead, so if he's let loose, he'll be tough to peg back.”

Strategy will definitely be paramount for the chocolate-brown Switzerland. Quick enough to go to the front, he showed a new dimension when stalking wide and free of sand last out. If he wishes for a replay of that scenario, the post position will be of utmost importance. The barrier draw takes place on Wednesday.

“One thing he doesn't want is cover,” Seemar explained. “If you look at all his winning races in America, he was always on the lead and didn't face a lot of kickback. He tried it here a couple times–to take back behind horses–and it just didn't work out for him. If they're going really fast on the lead, he can hopefully lay off them out of the kickback and come running again like he did at Meydan. The draw is obviously important, as well. I would like to be in the first four somewhere early.”

Having a live contender once again on Saudi Cup Day is quite an accomplishment for UAE's reigning champion training yard, proving once again that Dubai's premier horses can stack up against some of the very best in the world. Maintaining such company remains the goal after Saudi, as well, as Switzerland will surely be turning his watch ahead to Dubai World Cup Day and the $1.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Seemar: “We've been kind of lucky to be in this position. Last year, we had North America in the Saudi Cup and Gladiator King in the (Riyadh) Sprint, who was arguably the best sprinter in Dubai at the time. He got bumped in the race, which I think cost him second place, but he ran really well. The good thing is we've been there once and we know the script. We know what to do and what not to do, so we feel like we are in with a good chance with Switzerland.”

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