NEWS
High-priced yearling Jalil to make U.S. debut
Posted: Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:03 AM
JALIL
Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins photo
Godolphin Racing’s Jalil will make his United States debut on Saturday at Suffolk Downs in the $50,000 Waquoit Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds and older.
The four-year-old Storm Cat colt was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum for $9.7-million at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale.
“We want to see where he fits in this country and the Waquoit is a good starting point,” said Rick Mettee, the American assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “He's fit and ready to run. The timing, the distance, and the surface all make sense.”
Jalil comes to the U.S. off a successful campaign in the United Arab Emirates, where the dark bay or brown colt won three of four starts for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, including a victory in the Sakhee al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) on March 6 prior to finishing seventh to Horse of the Year Curlin in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29 at Nad al Sheba racecourse.
Mettee said Jalil is expected to ship from Saratoga Race Course to Suffolk the morning of the race and that, depending on the outcome, the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap on September 20 at Suffolk is a possibility for Jalil's next start.
Also entered in the Waquoit is three-time Canadian champion Judiths Wild Rush, who is winless in nine starts this season for owner Harvey Tenenbaum and trainer Julian Canet.
