Busy racing weekend includes California Chrome at Dubai

By RICHARD ENG SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

California Chrome of the U.S., ridden by Victor Espinoza races during a U.S.$ 150,000 price money race at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

A groom leads California Chrome to the early morning workout at the Meydan racecourse in Dubai ahead of Saturday’s $10 million Dubai World Cup March 24, 2015. REUTERS/Martin Dokoupil

The world’s richest horse race and two Kentucky Derby preps highlight an important day of racing Saturday.

The $10 million Dubai World Cup has a star-studded field of 12, headed by California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner.

The two Derby preps are the $2 million UAE Derby on the World Cup undercard and the $1 million Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.

Five American runners seem to dominate the World Cup field: California Chrome (3-2), Frosted (2-1), Mshawish (8-1), Hoppertunity (12-1) and Keen Ice (20-1). Of the foreign horses, only Mubtaahij (15-1) and Special Fighter (15-1) are given a chance.

California Chrome is the most likely winner. All reports from Dubai are that the horse has run and worked brilliantly for trainer Art Sherman and his son.

My upset horse is Keen Ice. He will be wearing blinkers for the first time, a suggestion made by his jockey, Ryan Moore.

The UAE Derby drew only seven runners mainly because of Polar River (3-5), who is unbeaten in four starts. While no UAE Derby winner has made an impact in the Kentucky Derby, this could change if Polar River wins and comes to Louisville, Kentucky. He has American pedigree by Congrats out of an Empire Maker mare and looks like a freak.

Gun Runner (3-1) was my public pick in the Risen Star, and he won getting a perfect ride by Florent Geroux. He is owned by the Winchell Thoroughbreds family of Las Vegas.

But he won’t be sneaking up on anyone in the Louisiana Derby. I like Greenpointcrusader (7-2), who is shipping in from Palm Meadows. He ran second to Mohaymen in the Holy Bull, but when it was announced that Nyquist was coming for the Florida Derby, this is Plan B.

Timing-wise the switch is no problem, as the Florida Derby is April 2. This colt is ready to run and has the tactical speed to sit a really good trip under John Velazquez.

■ MUGGSY MUNIZ — Robert “Muggsy” Muniz was a Las Vegas racebook director who, if you met him once, you would remember him for the rest of your life.

Muniz, 63, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday at his home in Acworth, Georgia. He was living Part 2 of his life. He was a basketball coach with an AAU team, the North Georgia Heat, and raised his son Robert through college.

In Part 1, Muniz was the racebook director at the Barbary Coast, Gold Coast and The Orleans until 2001. He was old school because he really valued his customers. He was known to tell his employees that it was a lot easier to replace them than customers.

He pioneered the rebate industry in which he gave big horse bettors a percentage of their handle back. He took handicapping contests to new heights, which spawned this era of enormous growth.

■ RAINBOW PICK 6 — The Gulfstream Park Rainbow Pick 6 with a carry-over of almost $4.2 million will pay out Saturday. It is a 20-cent minimum bet. The key to the bet is to win the entire jackpot, there must be one unique ticket. On Saturday, the Pick 6 must be paid out.

■ MICHAEL WRONA — Santa Anita Park announced Thursday that Michael Wrona has been named the permanent track announcer. He replaces the retired Trevor Denman.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. You can get his Santa Anita picks by emailing him at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick