Hit Show swoops late in $84.60 Dubai World Cup upset

A night of upsets at Meydan culminated in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), as the 41-1 Hit Show struck top gear late to deny fellow American longshot Mixto, leaving 1-2 favorite Forever Young behind in third.

Trained by Brad Cox and piloted by Florent Geroux, Hit Show picked the right time to take center stage in this lucrative “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The son of Candy Ride was a useful campaigner for owner/breeders Gary and Mary West, prompting his purchase by the Qatari-based Wathnan Racing last summer. But he’d yet to break through at the top level, and his latest effort, a distant third in the Santa Anita H. (G1), didn’t advertise his potential here.

Indeed, Forever Young brought the marquee international dirt form, and the Japanese star was widely expected to turn the first Saudi Cup (G1)/World Cup double. His Saudi heroics might have taken their toll, however, for he was never traveling with his usual verve. 

Forever Young secured a sensible stalking position behind Walk of Stars and Mixto in the early going, but came under pressure turning for home. In contrast, the two leaders kicked on and appeared to have the race between them.

Mixto subdued Walk of Stars down the lane, on the verge of glory for Doug O’Neill and Frankie Dettori. The trainer/jockey tandem had combined to lift the Godolphin Mile (G2) earlier on the card with Raging Torrent, and the main prize was tantalizingly close to their grasp.

Then Hit Show, who had been reserved well off the pace, suddenly erupted into the picture. Flashing home like a gray blur, he collared Mixto by a half-length in a final time of 2:03.50 for about 1 1/4 miles.

Hit Show sparked an $84.60 payout stateside, and with the 29-1 Mixto in second, the $1 exacta ballooned to $431.70.

Forever Young showed his heart to churn on gamely for third, another 1 1/2 lengths back, when he might well have packed it in. Walk of Stars held fourth, followed by Il Miracolo, who encountered trouble on the far turn; Ushba Tesoro, the 2023 Dubai World Cup hero and last year’s runner-up, who was making his swan song; Wilson Tesoro; Rattle N Roll; Ramjet; Katonah; and the tailed-off Imperial Emperor.

Hit Show boosted his bankroll to $8,406,928 from his 18-9-1-1 line. The winner of the 2023 Withers (G3) and near-misser in the Wood Memorial (G2), he finished a creditable fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and dead-heated for fourth in the Belmont (G1). Hit Show reeled off three straight graded wins last season in the West Virginia Governor’s (G3), Lukas Classic (G2), and Fayette (G2). 

Demoted from third to fifth for interference in the Clark (G2), Hit Show rebounded in the Jan. 18 Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds prior to his anticlimactic venture to Santa Anita. His trip to Meydan proved to be much more fruitful, while paying a hefty compliment to Big ‘Cap romper Locked.

The Kentucky-bred Hit Show was produced by Actress, the 2017 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner, who is in turn a daughter of Tapit and Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal.