DUBAI WORLD CUP SPOT PLAYS FOR MARCH 28TH (key the top picks in bold)

Race 2 Meydan/Dubai – 8:40 AM EDT SATURDAY – $1mill – Godolphin Mile(Picks 6-5-1-16-3)

#6 Frankiefourfingers (12/1 ML) cuts back to 1 mile and drops in class from Group 1 to Group 2.  Should be close to the lead throughout.  #5 Bradester is American speed and has solid Grade 2 form.  He will probably try to lead.  #1 Tamarkuz (2/1 ML) is the fastest local miler and a win would not surprise, but I want to see him beat the big boys before I swallow the 2/1 price.  #16 Surfer (12/1 ML) usually puts in a good effort and is a horse well suited to the conditions of this race.  #3 Quadivium (20/1 ML) most likely came to Dubai with Main Sequence, but if you go a few races back he put in some good wins and might be a good trifecta/super horse.

Race 4 Meydan/Dubai – 9:55 AM EDT SATURDAY – $2mill – UAE DERBY (Picks 7-1-4)

#7 Golden Barows (4/1 ML) is on quite a roll, and is undefeated on Japanese dirt.  Being by Tapit he should be able to get the extra distance.  #1 Mubtaahij (5/2 ML) was a perfect-trip winner last time but now faces some new shooters.  #4 Sir Fever is second off the layoff and is eligible to improve, but he’s going against two top horses today.

Race 7 Meydan/Dubai – 11:40 AM EDT SATURDAY – $6mill – DUBAI Turf (Picks 10-3-1)

#10 Solo (3/1 ML) has won 7 of his last 8 races, including the very important Group 2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein stakes over Arc de Triomphe weekend last October.  Because this race is run around one turn (the layout is a single left-handed turn similar to Woodbine’s), Solo should be able to have a very good trip and the jockey can time his run.  #3 Mshawish (5/1 ML) has won his last 3 races in a row and is a legitimate threat, especially with Frankie Dettorii up.  #1 Euro Charlene (6/1 ML) had some great races over the summer of 2014 and if she can recapture that form she’s a threat to get into the top three.

Race 9 Meydan/Dubai – 1:00 PM EDT SAT – $10mill – DUBAI WORLD CUP (Picks 2-5-9-1)

Expected Pace – moderate.  African Story, Lea and California Chrome all want to be tracking in the three path.  African Story might find it difficult to get to there from post 3.  This leaves the pace setting to Hokko Tarumae, Side Glance and possibly long shot Long River on or near the lead going in about 48 and 3 and 1:13 for the first half mile and first 6 furlongs.  Keep in mind the Meydan track surface has been producing slow times for both fractions and final.

#2 Hokko Tarumae (8/1 ML) is a horse with tactical speed.  I anticipate he will lead into the first turn unless Victor Espinoza and California Chrome takes him on from post 9.  This horse is 8-6-0-1 in his last eight races longer than 1 mile. including the top Japanese dirt race, the 2014 Champions Cup.  #5 Lea is going great guns and I will be “gobsmacked” if he does not run in the top two.  #9 California Chrome will probably sit second or third off of Hokko Tarumae and make a big run on the turn.  It will be interesting if he can sustain that run at 10 furlongs as his best races have been at 9 furlongs.  #1 Prince Bishop is THE closer in the race, deserves a shot at 15/1.