The U.A.E. Derby (Group 2) at Nad al Sheba drew a strong field of thirteen contestants hoping to bring home the lion's share of a massive $2,000,000 purse.  However, the lucrative purse is likely just an afterthought for the connections of Day Pass, who hope to keep their Kentucky Derby dreams alive with a strong effort.

Day Pass was purchased last fall by Godolphin after wiring the field in the Nashua (Grade 3) at Aqueduct in just his second career start.  He did not race again until March 1, when he finished a dismal fourth in a 1 1/8-mile prep for this race.  He tracked the pace that day before fading to finish 8 ¼-lengths behind runaway winner and fellow U.A.E. Derby entrant Asiatic Boy.  However, the effort may not have been as bad as it seems; Day Pass was just over a length from finishing second in the race.

Distance limitations certainly hover around Day Pass considering his sprint oriented pedigree.  His sire, Five Star Day, was a speedy sprinter who never much cared for added distance.  The fact that he faded in his last start after showing speed does little to dispel that notion.  However, that race was his first start in several months and further than he had ever been asked to run.  With that prep race under his belt he may be fit enough to tackle tougher horses and additional distance.

Day Pass will be asked to run against the same trio of horses that finished ahead of him in his last start, including Asiatic Boy who won the race by seven lengths.  Asiatic Boy comes into the race having won all three starts this year, each coming over the Nad al Sheba strip.  He figures to start as a heavy favorite in the race but has no Kentucky Derby aspirations; Asiatic Boy is a southern hemisphere 3-year-old but is considered a year older in the northern hemisphere.

One entrant that also hopes to earn a trip to Kentucky is 3-year-old filly Folk, who has her sights set on the Kentucky Oaks.  She has posted dominating victories in the U.A.E. 1000 Guineas and the U.A.E. Oaks, each restricted to members of her own sex.  She tackles boys in this race as her connections attempt to gauge her level of talent.

The race will be run at 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time and carries graded earnings.  Discreet Cat won this race last year and runs later on the same card in the Dubai World Cup.