Emblem Road scored an Arcangues-like upset Saturday in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Purchased at auction in America but campaigned strictly in Saudi Arabia, Emblem Road swept past Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon with 100 yards left and won the Saudi Cup by a half-length. He paid $229.20, not far off the $269.20 win price on Arcangues in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic, one of the great upsets in a major race. Wigberto Ramos, a 53-year-old Panamanian, rode the winner. Ramos was based in the U.S. from 1989 to 1998, riding Bull Inthe Heather to a 29-1 surprise Florida Derby score in 1993. Ramos went to Saudi Arabia in 1998 and has ridden there since, winning multiple jockey championships. “I feel so happy,” Ramos said while jogging his horse back to a raucous winner’s circle. “I just won the biggest race in the world.” Ramos’ familiarity with the local racecourse surely played a key role. Emblem Road got away poorly and was last in the initial stages, Ramos guiding his mount six paths off the rail for the long run down the backstretch. Emblem Road stayed wide on the turn, losing ground but avoiding kickback, and turned for home at least seven paths from the fence. Outside was the place to be for this Saudi Cup outsider. :: Serious horseplayers use serious products. Get DRF's premium past performances, now free for the first time It was Dubai shipper Secret Ambition who set the early pace, the American horse Art Collector pressing him down the backstretch, around the turn, and into the homestretch. Art Collector folded first, and then Secret Ambition was collared as the serious players took over. The Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, making his first start since May, broke sharply but was taken slightly back by Flavien Prat to stalk the pace while racing inside. With a quarter-mile to run, the field having turned into the homestretch, Prat guided Country Grammer off the fence, passing Secret Ambition. Midnight Bourbon, who had raced alongside Country Grammer around the turn, went with Country Grammer and those two hooked up, going head and head to the furlong grounds. But there came Emblem Road, racing on the wrong lead but closing steadily, putting his head in front and holding clear Country Grammer, who tried to fight back but fell short. Winning time for the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) over a fast track was 1:50.52. Mishriff won the 2021 Saudi Cup in 1:49.59, Maximum Security the 2020 renewal in 1:50.58. Mitad Almuwalah trains Emblem Road for Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz. Four-year-old Emblem Road, who never had raced beyond one mile before Saturday, now is a seven-time winner from nine starts. By Quality Road out of Venturini, by Bernardini, Emblem Road was sold at Keeneland’s September 2019 yearling sale for $230,000 but fetched a winning bid of only $90,000 at the 2020 OBS spring 2-year-old sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill and is the second foal to race out of his dam, who was winless in two starts. The female family’s famed member is Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Ventura, produced by Emblem Road’s third dam, Estala. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Country Grammer outran expectations shipping 8,200 miles to make his first start in about nine months, and Midnight Bourbon ran to form. Other prominent horses did not. Behind Midnight Bourbon came Making Miracles, another Saudi horse trained by Almuwalah, and another massive longshot, the Uruguayan horse Aero Trem. He was followed across the finish by Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine, who performed decently on a night when her fellow Japanese shippers ran spectacularly, winning four undercard stakes and just missing a fifth. Secret Ambition held on for seventh, with T O Keynes, Mandaloun, Magny Cours, Real World, Art Collector, Sealiway, and Mishriff rounding out the finish. Mishriff, last year’s winner, never looked competitive during the running after breaking from post 14 and racing wide. Mandaloun was in position to contend at the head of the homestretch but backed up quickly with no fight. Art Collector also turned in a disappointing performance. Emblem Road was not disappointing – just shocking.