Redemption is firmly on the agenda for Lovesick Blues as the seasoned American sprinter lines up for Saturday’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint, carrying both unfinished business and renewed confidence into one of the world’s richest sprint contests. The grey gelding arrives in Saudi Arabia determined to turn the page on a Breeders’ Cup run that promised much but delivered frustration.
Trained by Librado Barocio for Mia Familia Racing Stable, Lovesick Blues is part of a formidable American presence in the Group 2 contest, joining accomplished compatriots Imagination and Just Beat the Odds. For Barocio, however, the journey to the Riyadh Dirt Sprint has been about patience, resilience, and belief in a horse who continues to defy the limits of age and expectation.
The eight-year-old was last seen finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a result that failed to reflect his effort. A squeezed start left him detached early, yet he produced a sustained late charge, weaving through traffic and closing strongly despite repeatedly being denied clear running. Though beaten six lengths at the line, the performance left his trainer convinced there was more to come.
Barocio admitted the disappointment lingered, but so did ambition. The idea of testing Lovesick Blues on the international stage had long been a quiet dream, one that gathered momentum in the aftermath of that tough Breeders’ Cup experience. Rather than dwell on misfortune, the focus shifted toward the biggest dirt sprints on the calendar — and toward seeing just how high the veteran could climb.
Riyadh Dirt Sprint Brings a New Stage
Preparation for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint continued in earnest at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, where Lovesick Blues was put through a sharp leg-stretcher on Sunday morning under exercise rider Danny Ramsey. The gallop was designed to give the horse a feel for the surface, loosen his muscles, and sharpen his competitive edge.
Barocio was encouraged by what he saw. The gelding moved with purpose, showed energy leaving the track, and displayed the familiar edge that has defined his career. That competitive spark, according to his trainer, is both his hallmark and his challenge — quirks included.
Lovesick Blues’ story is one of steady ascent rather than sudden stardom. He climbed gradually from the claiming ranks through allowance company, developing into a durable and reliable performer. Now a nine-time winner from 43 starts and an earner of more than $830,000, he appears to be thriving at a stage when many peers have faded.
With only light work planned in the days leading up to the race, Barocio is content to let the horse’s earlier preparation do the talking. A couple of easy jogs, a final visit to the main track, and then it will be time to see whether experience and determination can tilt the balance in his favour.
All that remains, as Barocio puts it, is hope — and the belief that the Riyadh Dirt Sprint may finally offer Lovesick Blues the clear run he was denied on racing’s biggest American stage.
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