Saudi Cup: Taiba draws post 2, Country Grammer 10

Taiba drew post position 2 for Saturday’s Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, and stablemate Country Grammer drew post 10.

Both of the U.S. entries are trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Country Grammer was runner-up in this race last year to Emblem Road and won the Dubai World Cup (G1) next out. He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who also rode the 6-year-old to a 4 1/2-length win in the Dec. 26 San Antonio (G2). Emblem Road drew the No. 8 slot for this year's edition.

Taiba is coming off a 4 1/2-length win in the Dec. 26 Malibu (G1) after he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He will be ridden by Mike Smith, who has been aboard for all but one of his seven career starts.

Speaking to the Saudi Cup media team about Country Grammer, Baffert said, "He had the rail last year, it didn’t bother him at all. Frankie Dettori knows the horse really well, I’m lucky to have two Hall of Fame jockeys."

Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes said during the draw program that with Country Grammer last year, "we were coming over here off a layoff. This year, the horse had been racing, and we really believe this will be our year.”

Asked whether Country Grammer will benefit from shipping before, Barnes said, “Well, he does handle everything well, and I think what really helps him is he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse. We kind of think that’s what you need over here to win this mile-and-an-eighth race.”

On Taiba, Baffert said, "I think it’s good to have a speed horse inside of him," referring to Panthalassa. "He likes company, to run with another horse to get him into the race."

Barnes said Taiba can be expected to improve on his sophomore season.

“We really believe that this horse is coming into his 4-year-old year,” he said. “He’s matured and has handled the ship over here very well. He has traveled in the states, but this is a longer ship. But coming is in excellent shape.”

The Baffert duo returned to the dirt track after a couple of easy days recovering from their Monday morning breezes.

Barnes remained confident in their condition, as his barn seeks to do one better than its runner-up efforts in the past two editions.

"They’re looking great,” Barnes told the media team. "All was very good today, as we just took them out to stand in the gate and then galloped a mile-and-a-quarter."