By Sean Cronin

1st-YAR, £15,000, Mdn, 5-3, 3yo, 11f 104yT, 2:25.79, g/f.

+THE GRAND VISIR (GB) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}–Piping {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) lobbed along in a patient fourth from the outset of this first go. Asked to close on the leaders inside the half-mile pole, the 3-1 chance bounded into second approaching the final eighth and stayed on relentlessly under a late drive to deny Fibonacci (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) by a neck in the dying strides. The €750,000 ARAUG yearling becomes the second scorer, from as many foals to race, produced by an unraced daughter of G2 Prix de Royallieu victress and European highweight Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), whose five black-type performers are headed by G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning sire Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}).

Another of Saganeca’s offspring, the stakes-placed Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), produced G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The Grand Visir is kin to the 2-year-old filly Inthepipe (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Sea the Stars (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £9,452. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

O-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; B-Qatar Bloodstock, Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm (GB); T-William Haggas.

 

Classic Empire Mildly Favored in Derby 143

John Oxley’s Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) will look to become the third consecutive Eclipse Award-winning juvenile to double up in the GI Kentucky Derby, as he was made the lukewarm 4-1 favorite in what shapes as a wide-open renewal of the Run for the Roses Saturday at Churchill Downs. The $475,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, impressive in taking out last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has faced adversity this season, finishing a subpar third behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Irish War Cry (Curlin) in the GII Holy Bull S. Feb. 4 before shipping into Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala to continue his training towards a final Derby prep. That was originally to come in Keeneland’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 8, but he ultimately made the trip to Hot Springs and got home late to annex the GI Arkansas Derby. Classic Empire will be ridden by Julien Leparoux, who will have some decisions to make from gate 14.

Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), the devastating winner of the GI Florida Derby when last seen, shares second favoritism with ‘TDN Rising Star’ McCraken (Ghostzapper), who took the first loss of his career when third to then maiden Irap (Tiznow) in the Blue Grass. Always Dreaming spent the bulk of his time in Florida at the relatively serene Palm Beach Downs training facility, but since arriving at Churchill has been a handful in the mornings. Trainer Todd Pletcher has switched exercise riders and has instituted a set of draw reins in an attempt to harness the colt’s energy. Always Dreaming drew nicely in gate five and is expected to be in the thick of the battle early on.

McCracken, a perfect three-for-three at Churchill Downs, landed gate 15 and will likely take back, angle in and make a run at them late.

Irish War Cry will be available at a generous morning-line quote of 6-1 given his body of work. The New Jersey-bred drilled Gunnevera (Dialed In) by nearly four lengths in the Holy Bull, but stubbed his toe in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 4, finishing a listless seventh. He bounced back with authority in his latest, a 3 1/2-length success in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 8. Irish War Cry will have Rajiv Maragh in the saddle for the second time for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion and will try to carve out a trip from the auxiliary gate in 17.

GI Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley (Malibu Moon) drew post 18 at a morning line quote of 15-1.

The field for the 143rd Kentucky Derby:

1 Lookin at Lee (Lookin at Lucky), Lanerie 20-1

2 Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), Soumillon 20-1

3 Fast and Accurate (Hansen), Hill 50-1

4 Untrapped (Trappe Shot), Santana Jr. 30-1

5 Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), Velazquez 5-1

6 State of Honor (To Honor and Serve), Lezcano 30-1

7 Girvin (Tale of Ekati), Smith 15-1

8 Hence (Street Boss), Geroux 15-1

9 Irap (Tiznow), Gutierrez 20-1

10 Gunnevera (Dialed In), Castellano 15-1

11 Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), Prat 30-1

12 Sonneteer (Midnight Lute), Desormeaux 50-1

13 J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), Saez 20-1

14 Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), Leparoux 4-1

15 McCraken (Ghostzapper), Hernandez Jr. 5-1

16 Tapwrit (Tapit), Ortiz 20-1

17 Irish War Cry (Curlin), Maragh 6-1

18 Gormley (Malibu Moon), Espinoza 15-1

19 Practical Joke (Into Mischief), Rosario 20-1

20 Patch (Union Rags), Gaffalione 30-1

AE Royal Mo (Uncle Mo), Stevens 20-1

AE Master Plan (Twirling Candy), Velazquez (2) 50-1

 

Blue Point Returns With Pavilion Triumph

4th at ASC, Gr. Stk, £80,000

G3 Merriebelle Stable Pavilion S.

(6f)

Winner: Blue Point (Ire), c, 3 by Shamardal

 

Blue Point | Racing Post

By Sean Cronin

Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) ran second to Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in Goodwood’s July 28 G2 Richmond S., in his black-type debut, after opening up with a June 9 Nottingham win and acquiring TDN Rising Star status at Doncaster in his second start July 14. He remained at the forefront of European juvenile form when annexing York’s Aug. 20 G2 Gimcrack S., and closed a commendable freshman campaign with a second to The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) in Newmarket’s Sept. 24 G1 Middle Park S. and a third behind Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Oct. 8 G1 Dewhurst S. back at Headquarters last time. Squeezed for room at the break and positioned fourth overall racing in the centre of the track, he inched ever closer from halfway and quickened smartly once shaken up for the lead approaching the final furlong to comfortably account for Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths. Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), who raced towards the rear initially, ran on well in the closing stages to finish the same margin adrift in third.

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain

MERRIEBELLE STABLE PAVILION S.-G3, £80,000, ASC, 5-3, 3yo, 6fT, 1:11.05, g/f.

1–BLUE POINT (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Shamardal

1st Dam: Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB)

2nd Dam: Billie Blue (GB), by Ballad Rock (Ire)

3rd Dam: Blue Nose (Ire), by Windjammer

(110,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William T. Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 7-4-2-1, $406,427. *1/2 to Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $185,830. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Harry Angel (Ire), 131, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Beatrix Potter (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (£44,000 Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Peter Ridgers; B-CBS Bloodstock (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £17,200.

3–Mubtasim (Ire), 127, c, 3, Arcano (Ire)–Start The Music (Ire), by King’s Best. (€22,000 Wlg ’14 GOFNOV; 38,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Mrs Natasha Drennan (IRE); T-William Haggas. £8,608.

Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 3.50, 10.00.

Also Ran: Tis Marvellous (GB), Yalta (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Seven Heavens (GB), Mokarris, Legendary Lunch (Ire), Rosie Briar (GB). Scratched: Koropick (Ire), Visionary (Ire).

Blue Point is a half-brother to G2 Railway S. victor and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and the three-time handicap winner Esytopolishadimond (Ire) (Starcraft {NZ}). His dam Scarlett Rose (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) is a half-sister to MGSW sire Tumbleweed Ridge (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and to the dam of G2 Queen Mary S. victress Gilded (Ire) (Redback {GB}), who in turn produced three-time stakes scorer and G3 Ballyogan S. runner-up Fort Del Oro (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Treve’s Sister Off the Mark At Chantilly

3rd at CHY, Mdn, 30000

Prix de Champlatreux (Mdn)

(10f)

Winner: Terre (Fr), f, 3 by Motivator (GB)