The Curragh: Team Valor-owned First Cornerstone takes Group 2 Futurity

First Cornerstone, recently acquired by the Kentucky-based Team Valor Partnership, won Sunday’s Group 2 Futurity Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh in Ireland in his group stakes debut.

Ridden by Chris Hayes for trainer Andy Oliver, First Cornerstone, a 7-2 shot, closed from third in a field of four to take the lead in the final furlong and win by 1 1/4 lengths over Flying the Flag, the 7-4 co-favorite.

A colt by Hurricane Run, First Cornerstone has won 2 of 3 starts. The colt won his first stakes in the minor Canford Cliffs Stakes at Tipperary, Ireland on Aug. 10. Oliver mentioned the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Oct. 27 as a long-term goal for this fall.

Flying the Flag, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was making his stakes debut after winning his debut at Leopardstown in July. Birdman, also 7-4 odds, and Kingston Jamaica also ran.

Also at the Curragh on Sunday, Up, who was sixth in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 18, won the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes over 1 1/8 miles. Up is trained by O’Brien.

Deauville: Masterstroke scores Group 2 win

Masterstroke won his first group stakes, and second career stakes, in Sunday’s Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville in France.

Masterstroke, a colt by Monsun, races for Godolphin Racing and is trained by Andre Fabre.

Second in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart in May, Masterstroke, who was sent off at 17-2, raced in the middle of the field of 11 early, moved closer to the front in the last quarter-mile and was fully extended to beat13-2 Gatewood by the official margin of a short neck. Mickael Barzalona rode Masterstroke.

Ok Coral, a 24-1 shot, finished third, with Tenenbaum, the 2-1 favorite, finishing a troubled seventh.