Mandella’s Hoping for Congrats

A year after winning the Dubai World Cup with the since-retired Pleasantly Perfect, trainer Richard Mandella will be trying again in the world’s richest race Saturday at Nad Al Sheba in the United Arab Emirates.

Congrats, who finished second to stablemate Rock Hard Ten in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, is Mandella’s hope for a second consecutive victory in the $6-million World Cup.

“He’s done great since he’s been [in Dubai],” Mandella said of the son of A.P. Indy.

Congrats is owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. Tyler Baze will ride the San Pasqual Handicap winner.

A dozen others entered the World Cup and the horse to beat is Roses In May. Second to Ghostzapper, eventual horse of the year, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 30, Roses In May will be looking to end a two-race losing streak. In his first start of 2005, he was second to Saint Liam in the Donn Handicap last month at Gulfstream Park.

John Velazquez will ride Roses In May, who has won seven of 12 and has been worse than second only once, for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Dale Romans.

The field includes three other American imports -- Choctaw Nation, the $40,000 claim by trainer Jeff Mullins for owner Bob Bone who has won five of seven; Lundy’s Liability, trained by Bobby Frankel and ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, and Dynever, ridden by Jose Santos.

Besides the World Cup, the card also includes the $1-million Godolphin Mile, the $2-million UAE Derby, the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen, the $2-million Dubai Sheema Classic and the $2-million Dubai Duty Free.

The UAE Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles, includes three unbeatens. Shamardahl, a son of Giant’s Causeway, went three for three in England as a 2-year-old, winning by a combined 13 lengths. Jaa Yez is perfect in five starts and Durban Thunder won his three starts by 18 1/4 total lengths last year in his native Brazil.

Bettors will be able to make advance wagers on all six of the races from Dubai on Friday at Santa Anita and its satellites. The track will be open Saturday morning for betting on the Sheema Classic, Golden Shaheen, Duty Free and World Cup. Post time for the Sheema Classic is 6:55 a.m., for the World Cup 9:20 a.m.