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Program # 8 |
Post Position:  |
Photo by: Benoit & Associates |
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Recent Developments |
Tom Albertrani, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, said Essence Of Dubai would ship to New York on Sunday (May 5) with an eye toward the Belmont Stakes (GI) and not the Preakness Stakes (GI).
Imperial Gesture, who finished eighth in Friday's (May 3) Kentucky Oaks (GI), also was headed to New York.
"He seems fine this morning," Albertrani said. "The best horse won yesterday. Give him credit. He got the pace and it looks like he pretty much stole it. We were hoping for a stronger pace and it didn't work out. I thought he ran a credible race."
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As A 3-Year Old |
Finished ninth, beaten 14 lengths by War Emblem, in Kentucky Derby (GI) 128
Won the UAE Derby (Gr. II) on Mar. 23 at Nad al Sheba
Won the UAE 2,000 Guineas (Gr. III) on Feb. 28 at Nad al Sheba
Has spent the winter at Godolphin's Al Quoz training center in Dubai
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As A 2-Year Old |
Won the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes by three lengths
Placed in three-of-four starts and earned $193,200
Was trained in U.S. by former Bob Baffert assistant Eoin Harty
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Derby Starter Analysis By: Steve Fugitte |
A beautiful and sleek fine boned horse that is developing a devastating late run for Saeed bin Suroor and David Flores. Has the running style to get a trip while others duke it out on the lead and he's been farther in his final prep than most here - easing concerns about his sire Pulpit who did not stay the Derby trip. Team Godolphin's quest to win the Kentucky Derby has been well-documented and they seem to learn from each trip. Have picked Godolphin runners the last two years because I sincerely thought they had the best horse. I am not going to pick this guy on top and that luck swing alone may put him the winner's circle. Certainly not short on earnings with $1.5 million banked already. Solid contender at odds but he'll need to avoid bumping and traffic as a rather light individual. Best chance yet to harvest the Derby hardware for Sheikh Mohammed's team. |
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Pedigree Anlysis By: John Gaver III |
Dosage Index: 3.57; Born: March 7, 1999
Essence of Dubai is by the young sire Pulpit, a brilliant racehorse whose future on the racetrack was short-lived, the sire of two crops and 77 foals to date. Essence of Dubai and Bema, recent winner of the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, are his two stakes winners, though he does have the talented Nokoma, second in the Remsen Stakes (GIII) and the winners Robe, Historic Speech and Grandson. Essence of Dubai's dam, Epitome, was a champion juvenile filly and Breeders' Cup victress. Additionally, she is a half-sister to the stakes winners Faltaat and Danjur. Epitome is by Summing, a fine main track router and winner of the 1981 Belmont Stakes (GI) going 12 furlongs. As a broodmare sire, Summing has the following notable stakes winners: Maybe Jack, Precise End and American Tango.Essence of Dubai was bred, raised and sold by Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky. and was purchased by Godolphin Racing Inc. for $2.3 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2000. While the book is still out on Pulpit, who finished fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby, as a sire of classic runners, Essence of Dubai's grandfather, A.P. Indy was a champion and winner of the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic and his great-grandfather, Seattle Slew, won the 1977 Triple Crown. Essence Of Dubai gets another injection of stamina from the distaff side of his family, as he's out of a graded stakes winning mare who is by a Belmont Stakes winner. Essence of Dubai is bred to stay 10 furlongs and his bred to get better as he gets older.
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