Photo:

Shamela Hanley / Eclipse Sportswire

Laurel River will miss the Group 1 Saudi Cup because of a “small setback in training,” according to an X post by Dubai Racing Club.

The post, quoting a statement from trainer Bhupat Seemar, said 7-year-old Laurel River missed a workout for the Feb. 22 Saudi Cup and that he will be pointed to the Dubai World Cup (G1), which he won last year.

Laurel River, a son of Into Mischief owned and bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte, was trained by Bob Baffert from his only start as a 2-year-old through his 4-year-old campaign. He won four of seven starts, all in California, including the 2022 Pat O’Brien (G2).

He was moved to the barn of Dubai-based Seemar in 2023 and returned last year with a seventh-place finish in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) at Meydan. Then he won the Burj Nahaar (G3) before winning the $12 million Dubai World Cup by 8 1/2 lengths.

In his only start since, he returned in January to finish second by a head in the Firebreak (G3), also at Meydan.