I have to admit, I had my doubts about Well Armed in today’s $6 million Dubai World Cup. The horse just seemed to be tailing off, in my opinion, since his victory in the Goodwood Handicap in September at Oak Tree. He was third at Dubai last year, a race that Curlin powerfully won.
But Well Armed made Curlin’s 2008 victory look like a stroll in the park, as the Eoin Harty-trained 6-year-old gelding romped to a record 14-length victory against some of the best older horses in the world.
It was the biggest victory of veteran jockey Aaron Gryder’s career. Always a professional, it was a well-deserved victory for the 38-year-old native of West Covina.
I’m sure Well Armed will get a much-needed break now, and he could return in time for the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic this summer and then the Breeders’ Cup in the fall. If he continues to run like he did in Dubai, you can be sure he’ll be running in the $5 million Classic rather than the Dirt Mile like 2008.
