Roses In May Hits Jackpot in Dubai

Winless for more than six months, Roses In May picked the right spot to return to the victory column. Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s 5-year-old was a three-length winner Saturday of the Dubai World Cup, at $6 million the world’s richest race.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Roses In May won for the first time since a victory in September at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. His two starts since then produced second-place finishes, to Ghostzapper in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and behind Saint Liam in the Donn Handicap.

Roses In May, trained by Dale Romans, won for the eighth time in 13 starts. His $3.6-million winner’s share boosted the horse’s purse to almost $5.5 million.

Choctaw Nation, who made the trip to the United Arab Emirates from Santa Anita, made a fruitless run at Roses In May in the stretch. There was a 1-2-3 U.S. finish to the 1 1/4 -mile race, with Dynever second and Choctaw Nation third. Of the other U.S. entrants, Congrats ran fifth and Lundy’s Liability finished seventh.

There’s no betting in Dubai, but in the U.S. favored Roses In May paid $4.20. Clocked in 2:02, Roses In May joined Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve and Pleasantly Perfect as U.S. winners of the World Cup, which was first run in 1996, when Cigar won.

Roses In May didn’t break sharply but was in contention from the break, not far behind the leaders.

“This horse has a steady cruising speed,” Ken Ramsey said.

Ramsey skipped a flight home to Kentucky so he could celebrate in Dubai.

There were seven races worth $15.25 million at the racecourse of Sheik Mohammed, Dubai’s crown prince. The sheik’s Godolphin stable sent out undefeated Shamardal in the $2-million United Arab Emirates Derby, but he expended himself early and finished last. Another Godolphin horse, Blues And Royals, won the race by 12 lengths and paid $103.80. Both colts are considered candidates for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

California import Marenostrum ran second to Blues And Royals, and Parole Board, who was third, is also a Derby prospect.

“I couldn’t get my horse to relax,” said Frankie Dettori, who rode Shamardal. “If he had kept up the pace he had been on, he would have been a motorbike, not a racehorse.”

Other winners in Dubai were Elvstroem, 2 3/4 lengths better than the Hollywood Park-based Whilly in the $2-million Duty Free; a Florida shipper, Saratoga County, in the $2-million Golden Shaheen; Phoenix Reach in the $2-million Sheema Classic; and Grand Emporium in the $1-million Godolphin Mile. Pico Central, the 3-5 favorite, ran fourth in the Golden Shaheen. A foul claim by his jockey, Alex Solis, against Saratoga County was disallowed.

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Trainer Todd Pletcher ran two of his top 3-year-olds at Turfway Park.

The 10-1 longshot won and the 2-5 favorite was sixth.

Flower Alley won the $500,000 Lane’s End and Proud Accolade never threatened in the $100,000 Rushaway.

Flower Alley, ridden by Jorge Chavez, beat Wild Desert by half a length on a muddy track. Mr Sword was third and favored Spanish Chestnut finished sixth. The time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:50 1/5.

Flower Alley had run only twice, beating maidens Feb. 19.

“That’s not the normal thing for us to do,” Pletcher said, “but we thought he had a chance and wanted to get him into the big picture.”

Flower Alley will make one more start before the Kentucky Derby.

Cat Shaker, beaten in seven of eight previous starts, paid $79.80 in winning the Rushaway and became a late nominee for the Triple Crown.

“My horse ran so bad, I can’t even explain it,” said Jerry Bailey, who rode Proud Accolade.

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Trainers Bobby Frankel and Nick Zito, concerned about an outbreak of a potentially fatal bacterial disease at Palm Meadows, a training facility in Boynton Beach, Fla., have shipped 24 of their horses to Churchill Downs. The group includes Frankel’s Ghostzapper and High Limit, and Zito’s Sun King and Bellamy Road. Ghostzapper was horse of the year in 2004 and the others are contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby. Five cases of strangles, an infection that can cause painful swelling in the jaw and lead to breathing disorders, have been reported at Palm Meadows.

D’Wildcat Speed won the Rampart Handicap and Interpatation was first in the Palm Beach at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.... The owner-trainer combination of John Harris and Marty Jones won two races at Santa Anita, including the San Pedro with High Standards.... The lone winning pick-six ticket at Santa Anita -- worth $516,842.80 -- was sold at Bay Meadows.

Christine reported from Los Angeles.