Trainer Mike Maker has entered Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Talent Search, a
proven Grade 1 performer who is nominated for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1),
for his first race on turf as a prep for his Dubai debut.
The six-year-old son of Catienus is set for a US$50,000, five-furlong
allowance at Gulfstream Park on Thursday, an event that has drawn six others
with an additional runner entered only if the race is switched to the main track
in the event of heavy rain.
Among those who are set to take on Talent Search is Zabeel Racing
International’s Hellvelyn, an English Group 2 winner now trained by Kiaran
McLaughlin, and another Ramsey colorbearer by Catienus, Cannonball, a two-time
stakes winner in New York.
Talent Search, who was third in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Gr.1), has
raced only once since then, finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes (Gr.3) at
Keeneland last fall. He will be ridden on Thursday by Julien Leparoux and is set
to break from post seven.
Maker sent Talent Search out on Saturday for a five-furlong drill on the dirt
track at Gulfstream, and the chestnut delivered a time of 1:00.60, which was the
fifth fastest of 37 workouts at the distance.
The Ramseys, who won the 2005 Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) with Roses in May, have
been eager to return to Dubai and had hoped that Talent Search would race in the
2008 Dubai Golden Shaheen. However, an injury sent him to the sidelines for most
of last year.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the United States, two-time champion
Indian Blessing, another Dubai Golden Shaheen candidate, showed she is razor
sharp with a five-furlong workout in :59.20 over the Santa Anita Park synthetic
track. Her time was the fastest of 68 horses who worked at the distance.
“She just cruised around there,” said trainer Bob Baffert.
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