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Vineyard Haven entered in UAE Guineas

Vineyard Haven will begin his road to the Kentucky Derby on Thursday (Bill Roberts/Horsephotos.com) Multiple Grade 1 hero VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) is one of three Godolphin entries for Thursday's $250,000 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) at Nad al Sheba. Vineyard Haven will break from post 8 under Ted Durcan for the 1,600-meter race (about one mile). Vineyard Haven will be making his first start since being purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed. Formerly trained and co-owned by Bobby Frankel, the gray was a troubled third to DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Sanford S. (G2) before turning the tables with an impressive victory in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga. In his only subsequent start, Vineyard Haven romped by 5 3/4 lengths in the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont. Frankel himself had purchased the colt from owner/breeder/trainer Lynne Scace, for whom Vineyard Haven scored an impressive debut maiden win at Calder. Desert Party began his career under the banner of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable. The bay captured his first two starts in style for conditioner Eoin Harty, landing an Arlington Park maiden prior to his comfortable 3 1/4-length tally in the Sanford. Desert Party was compromised by a stumbling start in the Hopeful. Unable to recover from being bumped and squeezed back early, he checked in an uncharacteristic sixth. Desert Party was sidelined for the rest of his juvenile campaign. Switched to the elite Godolphin operation under the tutelage of Saeed bin Suroor, he returned to action with a victory over stablemate REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) in an about seven-furlong conditions race at Nad al Sheba on January 22.

Regal Ransom, a smart first-out winner for Kiaran McLaughlin at Saratoga, was dispatched as the 7-5 favorite in the Norfolk S. (G1) at Santa Anita. The dark bay chased the pace in that two-turn debut, but ultimately faded to finish eighth. Regal Ransom turned in a much better effort in his Dubai premiere in the aforementioned conditions race, where he yielded late and was beaten only a half-length by Desert Party.

A field of 10 will start in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas. Other notables include a pair of Argentinean-breds from the ever-dangerous Mike de Kock barn, BLUES AND ROCK (Casual Meeting) and ROCKS OFF (Orpen), who were fourth and fifth, respectively, to Desert Party in that January 22 prep. Considering that Rocks Off was a champion two-year-old in South Africa, and Blues and Rock was twice Group 1-placed in Argentina, both figure to move forward off their Dubai debut.

Also on Thursday's card is an about 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint for sophomores that attracted a field of 12, plus four reserves. Representing Godolphin are JOSE ADAN (Crypto Star), who crossed the wire first in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) only to be disqualified to second, and Sunday Silence S. victor CITY STYLE (City Zip), exiting a fourth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Vineyard Haven, Desert Party, Regal Ransom, Jose Adan and City Style are all nominated to the American Triple Crown.

Godolphin's top Triple Crown hopeful, champion MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song), is expected to make his sophomore debut later at the Carnival, with the March 5 Al Bastakiya being his first likely target.

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