In the week leading up to the Saudi Cup meeting, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert lamented to anyone who would listen about just how taxing those final 100 meters at King Abdulaziz Racecourse can be on the equine athletes.In Saturday’s $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland this fall, that final half-furlong finally came in handy, as Imagination (Into Mischief), last seen finishing runner-up in the 2025 Sprint at Del Mar, needed every inch of the deep surface to grind his way past fellow American shipper Just Beat the Odds (Munnings) for the victory. Saudi Arabia’s top sprinter Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier’s Call {GB}), runner-up to Straight No Chaser (Speightster) here 12 months ago, picked up more prize money with a valiant third.
Imagination was behind the eight ball right from the word go after missing the break and found himself in a cloud of dust from near the back of the pack. Just Beat the Odds argued the early fractions outside of the Dubai-based Echo Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Breeders’ Cup Sprint fourth American Stage (Into Mischief) and Muqtahem widest out.
Switched off heels while racing on his wrong lead approaching mid-stretch, Imagination continued to plug away gamely and surged past Just Beat The Odds for the victory despite never changing his legs. Muqtahem was gallant in third ahead of American Stage, with California’s Lovesick Blues (Grazen) rallying belatedly into fifth.
“Usually when they hit the 100-meter mark, my horses start gassing out, but he was just getting going,” Baffert said. “Brilliant ride by Prat. You have to have a really good horse to win here and they have to show up on this big night.”
Added the recently crowned champion jockey: “He broke a step slow and then I got squeezed but I felt very confident when we hit the turn, he was travelling very well and kicked on good. I think he’s going to keep improving. Bob always loved him, it took him a bit of time to figure it out but with time he’s just getting better and better.”