#Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2

The richest event on the horse racing calendar begins Saturday, when some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world compete in the Saudi Cup. Held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the inaugural edition of the race carries the significant incentive of a $20 million dollar prize pool-which makes it the most lucrative event in…

Hot Rod Charlie gives the Grade 3, $150000 Salvator Mile on Saturday at Monmouth Park a nice star attraction for racing fans to watch. Unfortunately, his class advantage also makes this race hard to approach as a bettor. Last year, Hot Rod Charlie crossed the wire first in the Haskell Stakes (G1) on this course, before a disqualification knocked…

Hot Rod Charlie likely got just what trainer Doug O'Neill wanted from his Dubai World Cup (G1) prep in Friday's $350000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2). Aside from getting a race over the Meydan track, the odds-on favorite stands to benefit fitness-wise, for it wasn't a cakewalk. Al Nefud served up a challenge until Hot Rod Charlie's class came…

The $500000, Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs may not be a qualifying race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic five weeks later, but it certainly has implications because the top three contenders could be be running in that race depending on how they perform in this one. Hot Rod Charlie leads the six-horse field in career…

The winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pegasus World Cup (G1), Life Is Good has drawn the outside post of a talented field of six older males entered in Saturday's $1000000 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. A disappointing fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March, the son of Into Mischief returned to his winning ways last time, easily…