The Group 1 Dubai World Cup attracts the best horses from around the world to compete for a share in the $10 million purse. Run at 2,000 meters on the dirt at Meydan Racecourse, which is about the 1 ¼ mile classic distance in the States, a strong U.S.A. contingent led by Arrogate has shipped across the globe for this world-wide test.

For more information on race picks, see Dubai World Cup 2017: Arrogate is the Man from Zipse at the Track. Post positions and odds are below as seen on the HRN Stakes Tracker.

It’s nearly impossible not to call Arrogate the heavy favorite. After romping in the Grade 1 Travers, passing last year’s Dubai World Cup victor California Chrome in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and dominating the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, it’s hard to pick against him. The four-year-old colt by Unbridled’s Song has looked nothing but excellent while preparing over in Dubai, and he looks ready to show the world just why he was named the 2016 World’s Best Racehorse.

Also a strong contender, that has been working well, is the Grade 1 winner, Gun Runner. While his counterparts experienced constant ups and downs, the son of Candy Ride had a consistent three-year-old season from beginning to end last year, and topped it all off with a win over older horses in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap. Gun Runner missed his chance against Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup due to quarantine restrictions, but was able to show off by winning the Grade 3 Razorback in impressive fashion. Now in Dubai, Arrogate will give Gun Runner the test of his lifetime.

The rest of the U.S. runners have all looked the part, too. Arrogate’s stablemate Hoppertunity, by Any Given Saturday, ran third in last year’s edition of the Dubai World Cup and enters off a win in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes. Neolithic has been on the improve and ran a valiant third in the Pegasus. The Harlan’s Holiday colt is still looking for his first stakes win though, and the Dubai World Cup is going to be a tough spot to capture it. Keen Ice, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Pegasus, will be using the classic distance to his advantage. The son of Curlin has looked exceptional while working in Dubai and is hoping for his first win since upsetting the 2015 Travers.

Keen Ice and Neolithic, stablemates and Dubai World Cup rivals @DRC_Meydan pic.twitter.com/at617ywqIU — Erika R. Photography (@erikar_photos) March 23, 2017

Other familiar names in the Dubai World Cup are Mubtaahij and Lani. Both have made appearances in the U.S. Triple Crown races, and Mubtaahij even made a second stint in America last season. The son of Dubawi recently finished second in the Curlin Handicap at Meydan, and was runner-up to California Chrome last year. While Lani’s recent form has not been his best, the Japan-based Tapit colt still has a strong fan base who loves him for his antics.

By Christine Oser