American Dubai Begins Keeneland Preparations for Blue Grass
Richard Keith’s American Dubai began his Keeneland preparations for next Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) with an easy gallop Friday morning under exercise rider Brian Murphy.
“We got here Wednesday night from Oaklawn and today was his first day at the track,” trainer Rodney Richards said. “He will probably work tomorrow morning and Chris Landeros will ride him in the Blue Grass.”
A Virginia-bred son of E Dubai, American Dubai won at first asking in November at Churchill Downs. This winter at Oaklawn, American Dubai was placed third in an allowance test and then ran third in the Southwest (G3), a prep for the Rebel (G2).
In the Rebel, American Dubai faded to 13th in a field of 14, a race that Richards is willing to throw out.
“I think he had a little bug that day,” said the 49-year-old Richards, a native of Oklahoma. “I think he deserves another chance.”
Richards, who has 10 horses in his stable and another five 2-year-olds in South Carolina, was part of a group that picked the colt out of a 2-year-old sale last year for $50,000.
“He had the body type that I was looking for,” Richards said. “He was a tall, rangy horse.”
The Toyota Blue Grass offers 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 100 going to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 for third and 10 for fourth. American Dubai has two points from his effort in the Southwest and a top two finish here should be enough to get Richards to his first Derby.
“I never have been to the Kentucky Derby,” said Richards, who got his trainer’s license in 2003. “I have a small stable with horses for two owners and it has been a great journey already for us.”
Source: Keeneland Association