The world's richest horse race will take place on Saturda, the 2024 Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trainers have been sending their top horses to the Middle East for this race for years and the 2024 Saudi Cup field is one of the most competitive ever. White Abarrio beat Derma Sotogake in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, but Derma Sotogake will have a chance to get revenge. White Abarrio is the 3-1 favorite in the 2024 Saudi Cup odds, while Lemon Pop is 5-1 and Derma Sotogake is 6-1. Other 2024 Saudi Cup contenders include National Treasure (8-1) and Ushba Tesoro (8-1). Which 2024 Saudi Cup horses should you target with your 2024 Saudi Cup bets?
The 2024 Saudi Cup 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 2024 Saudi Cup picks.
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 astute 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. Anyone who has followed her is way up.
For Saturday, Yu has handicapped the 2024 Saudi Cup lineup, made her picks and constructed her best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2024 Saudi Cup predictions
One surprise: Yu is completely fading Lemon Pop, even though he's one of the top favorites at 5-1. Japan's dirt champion from last year, Lemon Pop won four of five starts in 2023 including the Champions Cup. He is owned by Godolphin and trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka.
But Lemon Drop drew poorly on Wednesday, getting post No. 3, which will put him at the mercy of a clean trip if he isn't quick enough to get to the front early. "There are fast horses in this field, and I don't know if he is committed to the lead," Yu told SportsLine. Yu is not including Lemon Pop anywhere in her 2024 Saudi Cup bets.
Another curveball: Yu is high on the chances of Ushba Tesoro, the reigning Dubai World Cup winner who is a longshot at 8-1. He was back in the track in the Breeders' Cup Classic, finishing three lengths behind White Abarrio. However, he has already returned to form since then, winning the Tokyo Daishoten at the end of December.
Ushba Tesoro proved his ability against elite fields when he won the Dubai World Cup last year. He has won more than $10 million in his career, but he is still being overlooked due to his mistimed finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Yu believes this is a prime opportunity to take advantage of an undervalued horse at longshot odds. You can see all of Yu's 2024 Saudi Cup bets here.
How to make 2024 Saudi Cup picks
Moreover, Yu is high on a double-digit longshot who has "looked sharp on track in the mornings." 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. She's sharing which horses to back at SportsLine.
So what double-digit longshot does Yu like in the 2024 Saudi Cup? Who wins the race? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Saudi Cup, and find out.
2024 Saudi Cup odds, contenders
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
| 1 | Carmel Road | 25-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Crown Pride | 33-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Defunded | 25-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Derma Sotogake | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Hoist the Gold | 40-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Isolate | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Lemon Pop | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Meisho Hario | Scratched | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | National Treasure | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 10 | Power in Numbers | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 11 | Saudi Crown | 14-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 12 | Senor Buscador | 16-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 13 | Ushba Tesoro | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 14 | White Abarrio | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 15 | Scotland Yard | 40-1 | SEE PICKS |
