Kentucky Derby Road: Feb. 22 Saudi Derby, John Battaglia Memorial, Miracle Wood Stakes

G3 Saudi Derby, 1,600 Meters (about 1 Mile)
Golden Vekoma ran down pacesetter Shin Forever to win the $1,500,000 G3 Saudi Derby in a time of 1:38.19 despite not timely changing leads in the stretch. The winner is a $90,000 Ocala Breeders' Sale purchase trained in the UAE and will be pointed to the G2 UAE Derby. He wasn't early-nominated to the Triple Crown but can be late-nominated for $6,000. Japan-based Shin Forever, who is Triple Crown-nominated, had a two-length lead into the stretch before being overtaken about 75 yards from the finish line and finishing two lengths back in second. Mhally was third. The lone North American runner Cyclone State found himself too far back early to make an impression on the race. There are no Kentucky Derby points associated with the Saudi Derby.

The winner of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented By Longines on Jan. 24 was ridden by Connor Beasley and is trained by Ahmad Harmash for Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi. Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm. By Vekoma out of Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy.

Trainer Harmash on Golden Vekoma: "He's the kind of horse that has a big heart, and he tries all the time."



Miracle Wood Stakes, 1 Mile

Barbadian Runner ran down early leaders Crab Daddy and Pay Billy in the stretch to win the one-turn Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel by a head. The early pace was tepid as Crab Daddy ran the first quarter- and half-mile in 24.82 and 48.92 with Pay Billy attending the pace and Barbadian Runner never far back. Coming out of the turn Pay Billy overtook Crab Daddy and looked best for a moment, but Barbadian Runner loomed outside mid-stretch and narrowly edged by Pay Billy as Crab Daddy rapidly faded to fourth after being overtaken by 6-5 favorite Sacred Runner. The time was 1:38.39.

Ridden by Henry Walters for trainer Forest Boyce, Barbadian Runner is owned by AJ Will Win Stables. He was bred in Maryland by Shamrock Farm. Barbadian Runner is not a Triple Crown nominee and is unlikely to be late-nominated.

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