For the fourth time since 2011, a race for purebred Arabian horses – the world’s most ancient breed of equines – was staged at the world-famous Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and the winner this year was a Texas-bred named Paddys Day who has raced at all three Class 1 tracks in the Lone Star State and is the reigning Arabian Horse of the Year. Owned by Quarter Moon Ranch LLC and trained by Scott Powell, the 5-year-old horse was ridden by top Thoroughbred jockey Calvin Borel in the $100,000 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup Sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Paddys Day, who was bred by Jane Teutsch, defeated Thess Is Awesome by 8 ¼ lengths and clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:53.49. The Texas-bred won for the 16th time in 23 starts and the $61,752 winner’s share jumped the son of Burning Sand’s earnings to $317,075.
He paid $3.20, $2.80 and $2.10 as the odds-on 3-5 betting choice in the field of nine, and could be on his way to a repeat Horse of the Year title. This was his third Grade 1 win of the year after successful runs earlier this season in the $48,000 HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Stakes (G1) at Sam Houston in March and a five-length win in the $51,000 Delaware Park Arabian Classic Handicap (G1) two weeks ago on Sept. 10. He’s won five of eight starts this year. In addition to his stakes win this year at Sam Houston, he’s recorded stakes victories in Texas at Lone Star Park and Retama Park, and in Colorado at Arapahoe Park.
“We’re going to Abu Dhabi in November for their big race (the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel on Nov. 6) and Calvin is coming,” Powell said. “You know what? We’re going to do some damage. It’s a different game but we’re going to do some damage and we’re going to do our best. We’re pretty tough.”
“He’s like a little Thoroughbred,” said Borel. “Every time I asked him, he put me in a spot. He’s very athletic and does everything like a Thoroughbred does. He ran a good race. He didn’t break as sharp as I thought he would. Once I found a hole I just picked my spot and he took off. I’m just happy to be back. I’ve won a few races this week so it’s back to rolling so everything’s going good.”