Asiatic Boy: Dubai regular seeks first success on US dirt

  PICTURE: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins  

Asiatic Boy heads ATR Stateside coverage

Preview: USA, Saturday 10.49pm BST (live on ATR)

Belmont Park: Suburban Hcap (Grade 2) 1m2f, dirt, 3yo+

DUBAI stalwart Asiatic Boy (Kiaran McLaughlin/Alan Garcia) bids to build on a promising debut on the American dirt in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday, when ATR Stateside is due to broadcast a feast of graded-stakes action.

Kiaran McLaughlin: new trainer

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com 

The former Mike de Kock-trained five-year-old, six times a winner at the Dubai Carnival, was only a length behind Macho Again in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs three weeks ago, just touching off the estimableEinstein for second.

Now new trainer Kiaran McLaughlin sends him back to the track quickly for the Suburban, a $400,000 event that has lost its Grade 1 status for 2009.

"He ran great last time," said McLaughlin. "He had a troubled trip and still ran second. Him and Einstein beat each other up a little bit trying for the same hole twice.

"I'm definitely not happy about the three weeks, but the horse is very happy and he couldn't be doing any better."

Asiatic Boy, who flopped in this year's Dubai World Cup, shoulders top-weight against nine rivals, headed by It's A Bird (Marty Wolfson/Javier Castellano), winner of three of his last four starts including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April.

Late runner Ready's Echo (Todd Pletcher/Ramon Dominguez) was a troubled seventh beaten less than five lengths, in the Grade 1 Met Mile.

Also on Saturday

Belmont Park: Dwyer Stakes (Grade 2) 1m½f, dirt, 3yo (BST 9.44pm, live on ATR)

Calvin Borel: jocked off

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com 

The promising Warrior's Reward has plenty to live up to here because, in effect, he has cost Calvin Borel the ride on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird for the remainder of the season.

Borel did not commit to riding Mine That Bird owing to an arrangement with trainer Ian Wilkes to partner Warrior's Reward in his next two races - which could clash with Mine That Bird.

Belmont Park: Prioress Stakes (Grade 1) 6f, dirt, 3yo fillies (BST 10.16pm, live on ATR)

The speedy Gabby's Golden Gal (Bob Baffert/Javier Castallano), all-the-way winner of the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes last time out, drops back two furlongs for the Prioress.

She faces pressure for the lead, though, notably from Heart Ashley (Steve Asmussen/Edgar Prado), who is on a four-timer, which could theoretically set things up nicely for late runners such as Be Fair and On The Moon.