Richard's Kid looks major Dubai contender

Report: USA, Sunday

Santa Anita: San Antonio Hcap (Grade2) 1m1f, AW, 4yo+

RICHARD'S KID (Bob Baffert/Garrett Gomez) stamped himself a major Dubai World Cup contender on Sunday with a remarkable last-to-first charge down the rail to land a competitive running of the San Antonio.

The five-year-old, sent off 8-5 favourite, was purchased last month by Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Rashid and was running for the first time in the colours of his Zabeel Racing stable.

The son of Lemon Drop Kidwas brought from the rear off a slow pace and sent through a gap on the fence to register a narrow victory over outsiders Dakota Phone and the ex-Michael Jarvis-trained Philatelist in a furious finish.

"They were going slow and he was a little rank,"  said trainer Bob Baffert.

Bob Baffert: relieved at win

  PICTURE: Horsephotos/NTRA  

"He was way back there. The pace was the  deciding factor, and you can't really change his style.

"Turning for home I thought, 'Boy, they're  going so slow', and I couldn't see him . . . but he was on the rail and he just  shot through there."

Richard's Kid, winner of last year's Pacific Classic at Del Mar, will not run again before the World Cup, for which he was a best-priced 16-1 on Monday morning with British bookmakers.

"This was his prep race," he  said. "Garrett got to know him a  little bit today."

Gomez said: "I stayed down inside with him because there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it.

"Nobody was really stopping today so the only way we were going to over come that was to save ground. He's got a great kick."

Royal Ascot winner Giganticus beat only one home on his Californian debut.

Also on Sunday

Gulfstream Park: Hallandale Beach Stakes 1m½f, turf, 3yo

Potential Kentucky Derby candidate Interactif was tocuhed off by Calder-based Bim Bam (David Brownlee/Eibar Coa) after a battle down the lane.