Anglophile edges Far Bridge to take Dueling Grounds Derby

In the Grade 3, $1 million Dueling Grounds Derby, Anglophile and Far Bridge lived up to the race's moniker with quite a compelling stretch run. Both colts rallied into a slow early pace and showed good courage in tight spots to do so before fighting it out through the final yards, with Anglophile prevailing by a half-length for the upset win on Sunday at Kentucky Downs.

This was the first career stakes victory for Anglophile ($23.40), trained by Brian Lynch for LFG Racing. The English Channel colt, who has now taken three of nine career starts overall, had knocked at the door against more minor company, finishing second in the Cutler Bay Stakes in April at Gulfstream Park; and third in the Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby last month at Ellis Park. Regular rider Declan Cannon took responsibility for the latter effort.

“I shouldn’t have gotten beat on him last time,” Cannon said. “I made a mule of it. I kind of got stuck behind horses and got out too late. I made sure I got plenty of running room today, so I made amends.”

With little early speed on paper in this 1 5/16-mile marathon for 3-year-olds - roughly a lap around the undulating, teardrop-shaped Kentucky Downs course - Wizard of Westwood was allowed to set a pedestrian pace while well handled by Gerardo Corrales. The colt, a stakes winner in California, ticked off early splits of 25.83 seconds for the quarter, 50.76 for the half, and 1:16.55 for six furlongs on the turf rated firm, leading by two lengths at the latter point. At that stage, Anglophile and Cannon were rating in fourth, about four lengths off the leader.

“Beautiful trip,” Cannon said. “Got a little more forward than I thought today, but he fell into a nice rhythm. I knew he’d stay the distance. I just rode him with plenty of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Far Bridge and Jose Ortiz were seventh, a little more than a length behind Anglophile. Far Bridge, also a son of English Channel, was favored in the Dueling Grounds off a summer campaign in Grade 1 action in New York, winning the Belmont Derby and finishing third in the Saratoga Derby for Todd Pletcher.

Turning for home, Wizard of Westwood had more in the tank and tried to kick on, but Battle of Normandy was the first to rally and set upon him. Far Bridge, who had split horses on the sweeping far turn to reach contention, found himself in a bit tight at that point, and shifted out for running room.

“He tried to lug in a little bit passing the quarter pole,” Ortiz said. “I was right in the clear, and he went back in behind Battle of Normandy. I had to take a hold and grab him and go outside again. I think that is what cost him the race right there. I am sure I would have won it.”

Meanwhile, Anglophile had continued to save ground and seized the opportunity when he saw daylight on the rail himself. Anglophile and Far Bridge charged together through the late stages, separated by a half-length at the wire.

The final time was 2:08.93.

Far Bridge, who has still never finished worse than third in seven career starts, was a length clear of Battle of Normandy in third. Wizard of Westwood was another 1 1/4 behind the latter, giving way only grudgingly. They were followed, in order, by Really Good, Clever Thought, Just a Photo, Red Route One, and Lion of War. Second choice Red Route One, a graded stakes winner on dirt who was returning to the course on which he broke his maiden last year, was in a bit tight in the early going and raced inside throughout, but offered no response yet with no pace to help along his typical late run.

Lynch did not immediately have a next target in mind for Anglophile.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this little guy, especially for these marathon distances,” the trainer said. “We’ll just let the dust settle here, and we’ll look for bigger and better things down the road.”