The world's richest horse race takes place on Saturday when 14 horses leave the starting gate in the 2024 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a purse of $20 million, the Saudi Cup has eclipsed the Dubai World Cup as the world's richest race. Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio is the 3-1 favorite in the 2024 Saudi Cup odds. Japanese invader Lemon Pop is the 5-1 second choice in the 15-horse 2024 Saudi Cup field. Derma Sotogake (6-1), National Treasure (8-1) and Ushba Tesoro (8-1) round out the top five 2024 Saudi Cup contenders according to oddsmakers.
Post time is set for 12:40 p.m. ET. With several of the world's best horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what Santa Anita-based racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu, who is in Saudi Arabia to cover the race, has to say before making any Saudi Cup picks. Join SportsLine here to see who she's picking!
Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
Yu also has tremendous handicapping chops. In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager two years ago, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won the Derby.
Last year she crushed the Saudi Cup, riding 15-1 winner Panthalassa, nailed Derma Sotogake to win the UAE Derby and hit the exacta in the Santa Anita Derby. She hit the exacta in the Preakness Stakes and Hollywood Gold Cup and had both the winner and exacta in the Summertime Oaks and the Prince of Wales's Stakes. She also smashed the Haskell Stakes for a $663 score, hitting 12-1 winner Geaux Rocket Ride as well as the exacta. Last month, she correctly called National Treasure to win the Pegasus World Cup!
Now, Yu has handicapped the 2024 Saudi Cup horses, made her picks and constructed her bets. Join SportsLine here to see them!
One surprise: Yu is completely fading Lemon Pop, even though he's one of the top favorites at 5-1! Another surprise: Yu is high on Ushba Tesoro, the reigning Dubai World Cup winner who is an 8-1 longshot! "You might get a decent price on a horse in good form with a long stretch to use to his advantage," Yu told SportsLine.
Moreover, Yu is high on a double-digit longshot who has "looked sharp on track in the mornings." Also, her top pick is a horse who will have "plenty of time to make a move." She is including these horses in her 2024 Saudi Cup bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY need to see her picks before locking in any of your own.
So what double-digit longshot does Yu like in the 2024 Saudi Cup? Who wins the race? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Michelle Yu's 2024 Saudi Cup picks and horse-by-horse analysis, all from the Santa Anita-based insider who ABSOLUTELY NAILED this race last year!
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