INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Richard’s Kid, the winner of the Pacific Classic and Goodwood Stakes in his last two starts, will not start in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, and he will be sent to Dubai for racing this winter, trainer Bob Baffert said on Tuesday.
Baffert worked Richard’s Kid six furlongs in 1:13 at Hollywood Park on Tuesday morning, preparing him for a start in the BC Classic. Later that morning, he was informed by representatives of owner Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al-Maktoum that the millionaire horse will not start in Kentucky next month.
“He wants him home,” Baffert said of Sheikh Rashid’s plan. “He wants to get him ready for the winter. I got the word today. He’s going to go into quarantine this week.”
Sheikh Rashid, 28, races as Zabeel Racing International and is the oldest son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who owns the powerful Godolphin Racing stable.
The defection of Richard’s Kid costs the BC Classic the presence of the leading older male in California in recent months. A 5-year-old, Richard’s Kid won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 28 and the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2. A winner of 9 of 27 starts and $1,716,370, Richard’s Kid was seventh in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27, his only previous start in that country.
“They’re passing up a chance to be champion older horse and maybe Horse of the Year,” Baffert said.
Baffert will still have a formidable presence in the BC Classic with the leading 3-year-old Lookin at Lucky, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Hollywood on Tuesday.
Lookin at Lucky worked under jockey Martin Garcia. Rain fell in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday morning, but largely missed Hollywood Park during training hours.
Lookin at Lucky worked in company with the Baffert-owned 3-year-old Spectacular Slew, who started about four lengths in front of his stablemate. Lookin at Lucky dropped farther back during the early part of the workout, but finished in front. Hollywood Park clockers timed his final quarter-mile in 22.80 seconds.
Lookin at Lucky won the Indiana Derby on Oct. 2, his first race since a win in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 1. In between, he was sidelined with an illness.
“He came out of it better than he went in it,” Baffert said of the Indiana Derby. “He’s getting stronger and stronger. He’ll have to run better than he ever has.”
About 20 minutes later, Richard’s Kid worked in company with Sangaree, a minor stakes winner owned by Sheikh Mohammed. Richard’s Kid started about four lengths behind and made up ground through the stretch.
In the BC Classic, Lookin at Lucky must beat the undefeated mare Zenyatta, who jogged and galloped on the main track at Hollywood Park on Tuesday. Zenyatta will be after her 20th win in BC Classic.
“This Classic will be the biggest and most historic because of the mare,” Baffert said. ”Can history be made? Can she compete against the best on dirt?”
J P’s Gusto breezes for BC Juvenile
J P’s Gusto, a four-time stakes winner during the summer, worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Tuesday for the BC Juvenile, to be run Nov. 6. Working alone under exercise rider Iggy Puglisi, J P’s Gusto ran the final three furlongs in 35.60 seconds.
The BC Juvenile is run over 1 1/16 miles. In his first attempt at that distance, J P’s Gusto was second to Jaycito in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes on Oct. 2.
The Usual Q. T. preps for Cal Cup Mile
The Usual Q. T. worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Tuesday, and is likely to start in the $100,000 California Cup Mile for statebreds at Hollywood Park on Oct. 30 instead of the BC Mile on Nov. 6, trainer Jim Cassidy said.
The winner of the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes in July, The Usual Q. T. will use the Cal Cup Mile as a prep for the Grade 1 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27, Cassidy said.
Dancing in Silks gets green light for BC Sprint
Dancing in Silks will try to defend his title in the BC Sprint on Nov. 6, trainer Carla Gaines said. The decision was made earlier this week after Gaines spoke with owner Ken Kinakin. Dancing in Silks is winless in four starts this year, the most recent being a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes at Hollywood Park on Oct. 9.
Gaines will also start Temple City in the BC Dirt Marathon on Nov. 5. Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Temple City won the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar in July, but has lost his last two starts, including an eighth in the Hawthorne Gold Cup on Oct. 2.
