Diamond Gem AA Sparkles at Pimlico
Diamond Gem AA ridden by Carol Cedeno. Photo Paul Smoke
WATCH THE RACE
By Jonathan Horowitz
Arabian racehorses had their biggest spotlight in the United States with the richest Arabian horse race in American history, the $200,000 Grade 1 UAE President Cup, taking place at Preakness 150 and serving as the final horse race ever run at the old Pimlico on Saturday, May 17.
In 2024, the American leg of the global UAE President Cup series was decided by a three-way photo finish—RB Malexis over Diamond Gem AA and WMA Smoke Signal—when it was held at Gulfstream Park.
In 2025, Diamond Gem AA left no doubt and returned to the winner’s circle he graced two years prior when the UAE President Cup was last held at the Preakness. The winning margin of 14 1/2 lengths for the 6-year-old chestnut gelding (Burning Sand x Triumphs Pearl) was a record in 16 editions of the UAE President Cup in America dating back to 2010.
“He was galloping in at the last,” breeder-owner Joe Gillis of Allegro Arabians said. “He’s quite a horse, and when he’s right, he right.”
Diamond Gem AA matched strides with full-brother Quick Rae AA until jockey Carol Cedeno left the field behind around the far turn.
“I was fighting him a little bit in the beginning,” she said. “So, I didn’t want to keep fighting with him, so that’s why I just let him be himself when I hit the three-eighths pole.”
RB Grand Slam (Majd Al Arab x Rich Kinkga), a half-brother to 2024 winner RB Malexis, was second. AA Take a Chance (Baseq Al Khalediah x Ma’ma’ah), a $7,500 claim in August 2024, was third.
The winner’s share of the purse was $103,400, the first time an Arabian horse has earned a six-figure payday in the U.S. Jerenesto Torrez has now trained the last three UAE President Cup winners, and his fourth overall victory surpassed Ron Martino for most in the race. Diamond Gem AA joined T M Fred Texas, Valiant Boy, and Paddys Day as repeat winners.
The total of all betting pools that included the UAE President Cup, the 14th and final race at Preakness 150, came to $2,434,191, a record for the Arabian breed in the United States.
Photo Jim McCue
Under the vision of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and an Arabian horse enthusiast and advocate, the UAE President Cup Series has now provided unprecedented opportunities for Arabian racehorses in the United States, as well as around the world. |
