Crossfirehurricane remains unbeaten in Patton Stakes at Dundalk; earns 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Crossfirehurricane remained unbeaten after three starts with a half-length win over stablemate Choice of Mine in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.

The first two finishers are trained by Joseph O’Brien. Crossfirehurricane, a Kentucky-bred colt by Kitten’s Joy, races for Scott Heider.

Ridden by Shane Crosse, Crossfirehurricane (5-2) stalked pacesetter Choice of Mine to the top of the stretch and was fully extended to edge his 5-1 stablemate. Orchid Gardens (20-1) finished third in the field of nine, with King of Athens, the 9-4 favorite, finishing fifth after a slow start and a troubled trip in the one-mile race around one turn.

The Patton Stakes was Crossfirehurricane’s second start of February. Crossfirehurricane won a seven-furlong allowance race at Dundalk on Feb. 7 in his first start since a maiden win in his debut at Limerick, Ireland, last June.

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Crossfirehurricane earned 20 qualifying points toward the single Kentucky Derby berth available to the European-based runner with the highest total after the seven-race series. The first four Derby qualifying races were held last year.

The two races remaining in the series are both in Britain.

Wednesday’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Kempton Park drew seven nominations. The race is worth 20-8-4-2 points to the first four finishers.

The candidates include Chares, who was unbeaten in three starts on turf in France last year, including the Criterium de Lyon at a mile in September; and New World Tapestry, trained by Aidan O’Brien, who was scratched from the Patton Stakes.

Chares was transferred from trainer Christophe Ferland to Jane Chapple-Hyam over the winter.

The final race is the Cardinal Condition Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Chelmsford City Racecourse on April 2, which is worth 30-12-6-3 to the first four finishers.