Etched Rides into Kentucky Derby Picture

Etched will be racing at Churchill Downs on Thursday night at Nad Al Sheba, in a line-up of 15 in the Group 3, $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas. (AP Images)

Bred by Darley Stud and at the age of 2 years old, Etched had won both his starts by a combined 13 1 /4 lengths, the second a 6 1/2-length romp in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Nashua Stakes over a Anak Nakal, a heavy favorite. Sheik Mohammed then sent him to Dubai under the care of Saeed bin Suroor.

Suroor has been the hot trainer of late in the UAE, having won 13 of the 33 Thoroughbred races run at the Dubai Racing Carnival's five Nad Al Sheba meetings this winter.

The task facing Etched, who will break from post 4 under Frankie Dettori, is hardly a straightforward one. This race has a number of horses to note, mainly Honour Devil, trained by Mike de Kock following up his debut, displaying an impressive 5 1/4-length victory in a seven-furlong allowance on Jan. 24 at Nad Al Sheba.

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