Quick and Rich, Paddys Day Lead Field of 10 Arabian-Breds in Saturday's Grade I, $100,000 President of the UAE Cup

Jun 12, 2019 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

Tom Fritz’ 2017 President of the UAE Cup (Grade I) winner Quick and Rich will take on 2016 President of the UAE Cup hero Paddys Day in Saturday’s $100,000 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup sponsored by the UAE Ministry of Presidental Affairs (GI) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile event for purebred Arabians 4-year-olds and up is carded as Race 10 with a post time of 10:48 p.m.

Trained by top Arabian-bred conditioner Lynn Ashby, Quick and Rich pulled a massive 19-1 upset in the 2017 President of the UAE Cup. The now 9-year-old son of TH Richie most recently was placed first in an allowance event at Delaware Park as the heavy 1-2 favorite.

Churchill Downs’ leading rider Corey Lanerie has the mount on Quick and Rich from post No. 9

Among the rivals to Quick and Rich in the well-versed field of 10 Arabians is three-time Darley Horse of the Year winner Paddys Day, who will return to action for the first time in 10 months for trainer Leonie Sessing. Following Paddys Day’s victory in the President of the UAE Cup, the son of Burning Sand won the 2018 Al Maktoum Challenge (GI) at Meydan.

The 24-time winner will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. from post 8.

Also entered in the President of the UAE Cup is 14-time winner Easter Man. The 7-year-old son of Burning Sand has reeled off three races in a row, including a one-length score in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Amethyst Jewel Stakes (GI) at Sam Houston in March.

Easter Man drew post 9 with East Coast-based rider Carol Cedeno scheduled to make the trip to Kentucky for the mount.

The complete field for the President of the UAE Cup (with jockey and trainer): Madjikman (Keibar Coa, Fenneka Bentley); Bellfastt (Jack Gilligan, Bentley); Uptown Cruisedirector (Jose Garcia, Ashby); Mizzdora (Edgar Morales, Jeremias Castro); Easter Man (Cedeno, Jerenesto Torrez); RB Texas Hold Em (Gabriel Saez, Nicole Ruggeri); Thess Is Awesome (Adam Beschizza, Ashby); Paddys Day (Santana, Sessing); Quick and Rich (Lanerie, Ashby); and Risky Red (Rayan Gazader, Leonie Sessing).