Recent Dubai World Cup (G1) winners and Kentucky-breds Laurel River (2024) and Hit Show (2025) are among a world-class list of nominees for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28.
Owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Brad Cox, Hit Show made his seasonal debut a winning one at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14. The son of Candy Ride (ARG) scored a narrow victory over Accelerize in the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. After winning last year’s Dubai World Cup, Hit Show returned home to annex the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer and the Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. He was also runner-up in the Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
All told, Hit Show has banked more than $9 million and has captured 12-of-24 starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables. Hit Show is produced from the Tapit mare Actress.
Laurel River, a Juddmonte homebred, won the Firebreak Stakes at Meydan in 2025 in his only outing since winning the 2024 Dubai World Cup. Trained by Bhupat Seemar, Laurel River is a son of Into Mischief and is out of the Empire Maker mare Calm Water. He has banked more than $7.5 million, while winning 6-of-11 lifetime starts.