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Pinehurst after winning the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby. Saudi Cup results Longines Red Sea Turf Hcp. results Saudia Riyadh Dirt Sprint & stc 1351 Turf Sprint results Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby results Obaiya Arabian Classic, Neom Turf Cup, and Jockey Club Local Hcp. results

2022 Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby Results

The $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) presented by Al Rajhi Bank, over 1600 meters (1 mile) on the main track at King Abdulaziz is the only age-restricted race on Saudi Cup night, open to 3-year-olds only. Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) fifth place finisher Pinehurst was sent off as the 6-5 favorite off his second place effort in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Consigliere, winner of the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, and 8-1 third choice Noble Truth, fourth in the Horris Hill Stakes (G2) after finishing a close second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at Longchamp.

Pinehurst leads in the stretch run of the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby

Jockey Alexis Moreno sent 61-1 I Am Magic to the lead exiting the chute and he set fractions of 24.19 and 47.09 while pressed by favorite Pinehurst and stalked by 14-1 Sovereign Prince and Consigliere. On the far turn I Am Magic tired allowing Pinehurst to inherit the lead through 1:12.84. 13-1 Sekifu, midpack early under Cristian Demuro, put in a strong rally to challenge but Pinehurst outfinished him to win by 1/2 a length in 1:38.12. It was another 3/4 length back to Consigliere third.

Results Chart for the race from Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, and the video replay. Results for US wagering:

6th RACE King Abdulaziz - Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby
 9   Pinehurst                   4.40     3.60    2.60
10   Sekifu                              13.20    7.00
 5   Consigliere                                  3.20

Running time - 1:38.12 

$1.00 EXACTA 9-10                 29.10
$1.00 TRIFECTA 9-10-5            145.50
$1.00 SUPERFECTA 9-10-5-4    2,080.50

Left: Pinehurst in the winner's enclosure. Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "That was exciting. I thought that would be a great spot for him. Taking him and Country Grammer over there all that way and for him to run well, I’m very proud of him and happy for my team. It’s exciting to win after coming up short a couple of times over there. I hate when they show that 100m line on the screen because I’ve lost so much money in that last 100m at that track the past two years, but we got it done today. I think I carried him the last 1/16." 

Right: The trophy presentation for the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby. Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's assistant said, "He is all speed. He was very good at the gate and did what he needed to do. He got a clean break and if you are going to beat us, you have to pass us, and he was able to stay in the lead the whole way. [The Japanese] were coming again; well, they had enough for the day, so spread it around! Luckily he had enough heart and stamina to hold off the Japanese."

Left: Pinehurst in the walking ring. Baffert added, "I think he could stretch out next. He’s a horse who went through a lull and we had to back off him a bit, but when we brought them back, he ran a great race (San Vicente) last time. He’s tough and strong and I thought he was the kind of horse who could handle this kind of trip and that kind of track. He has a lot of quality and we haven’t seen the best yet of him. I think he will go to Dubai for the UAE Derby after this."

Right: Pinehurst with his new winner's blanket. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "He is a very good horse. We broke well and I was cruising all the way around and he responded very well when it was time to move. The track is really safe and I can only say good things about the track. It is my first time here and the whole thing has been a great experience and it means a lot to win that race."

Left: Second place finisher Sekifu returns after the race. Jockey Cristian Demuro said, "He was a little bit lazy at the start of the race because he doesn’t like too much kickback, so in the corner I was a little bit outside where he doesn’t get too much. In the stretch, I pulled out to avoid the kickback and he tried hard and showed a good turn of foot, but Bob Baffert’s horse started again. I think he will go 9f or longer, no problem."

Right: Third place finisher Consigliere in the walking ring. Jockey Christophe Lemaire said, "I was with the winner, I let him pass coming to the first corner to give my horse a chance and then we challenged the winner until the end. He was very generous - there was no excuse."

Saudi Cup Links:

• Official Site
• Riyadh Weather
• Emblem Road scores big in the Saudi Cup - Local hero Emblem Road outfinished Country Grammer in the stretch to win the third $20 million Saudi Cup by a half length on Saturday evening at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. Midnight Bourbon finished third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
• Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap - won by Stay Foolish
  
• Saudia Riyadh Dirt Sprint & stc 1351 Turf Sprint - won by Dancing Prince and Songline
  
• Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby - won by Pinehurst
  
• Obaiya Arabian Classic, Neom Turf Cup, and Jockey Club Local Handicap - won by Hadi de Carrere, Authority, and Aan Alawaan
  
• stc International Jockeys Challenge - The night before the $20 million Saudi Cup, King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh hosted the $1.6 million stc International Jockeys Challenge with 14 riders from around the world competing. Caitlin Jones from Australia was the winner.
• 2022 Saudi Cup Entries - Entries closed on Wednesday and post positions were drawn that evening for the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
• Saudi Cup Thursday Morning gallops - Photos of 33 horses from Thursday morning
• Saudi Cup Wednesday Morning Gallops - Photos of 36 of the horses from Wednesday morning
• Saudi Cup Tuesday Morning Gallops - 41 horses from Tuesday morning

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