Dataman takes Bald Eagle Derby; Bolivie wins Searching Stakes
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Although Dataman's recent breakthrough 11 1/4-length victory came on the main track in an off-turf first-level allowance at Delaware Park, trainer Graham Motion believed the Tapit gelding belonged in the Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles on grass at Laurel Park.
"I've always liked him," Motion told Daily Racing Form earlier in the week. "I've always thought he was that kind of horse.
Motion's instincts proved correct as Dataman benefited from a perfect pacetracking, ground-saving trip to win the Bald Eagle by three-quarters of a length over pacesetter Ari Gold.
The Bald Eagle was the second of two $100,000 turf stakes on the Sunday program with the Searching for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Ari Gold, the winner of Gulfstream's Pulpit Stakes last fall, controlled the Bald Eagle’s tempo while pressured by hard-pulling Sirtaki, a French invader making his first start in North America.
Ari Gold eventually dispatched Sirtaki, then fended off a strong final-turn challenge from favored Circling the Drain. Ari Gold was still in front at the midstretch mark, but jockey Jorge Ruiz wheeled Dataman out of the pocket to engage the leader.
Ari Gold was game, but Dataman finished better, and he streaked home first under the second-wire finish despite hopping back to his left lead inside the final sixteenth. Circling the Drain finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Ari Gold. Then came Mendelssohns March, Eldest Son, English Partner and Sirtaki. Georgie W scratched.
Dataman returned $26.80 as the sixth choice in the field. The race was hand-timed.
A homebred owned by Wertheimer et Frere, Dataman was foaled in Kentucky and is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning turf performer Alda. His fourth dam, Fanfreluche, was named Canadian Horse of the Year in 1970.
Dataman raced five times as a 2-year-old. He won his maiden in his second start, a one-mile turf event at Colonial Downs, then was unplaced in stakes races on both turf and dirt before finishing his juvenile campaign with a runner-up effort in a first-level allowance at Tampa Bay on Dec. 7.
Dataman placed fifth of eight in a similar race on Jan. 8, then was given time to mature. He returned from a six-month layoff to dominate that off-turf group at Delaware.
“I think the improved performance was more a result of having the time off than the surface,” Motion said. “It was a very impressive performance.”
Motion said that he “couldn’t find the ideal dirt spot” for Dataman, but entered the gelding in the Bald Eagle because he “always thought he could handle the grass.”
Dataman has won three of eight starts for earnings of $135,910.
*Searching
Bolivie rallied from last to win a thrilling edition of the Searching.
Ridden by Feargal Lynch, Bolivie took up residence at the back of the pack as Lifelovenlaughter controlled rated fractions of 24.35, 48.79 and 1:13.04 seconds.
Bolivie advanced three wide on the second turn, remained covered at the three-sixteenths pole, eased outside of a tiring Naval Empire, and charged hard through the stretch to nip favored Speirling Beag by a nose in 1:42.73.
Rail-skimming Cecile finished another nose behind in third. They were followed home by Lifelovenlaughter, Beautifulnavigator, Girl Named Charlie, Apple Picker and Naval Empire. Yesternight, Stellar Lady and No Show Sammy Jo scratched.
Irish-bred Bolivie returned $10.80 to win as the third choice in the betting.
"I was expecting to be a little bit closer [to the pace]," Lynch said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. [Speirling Beag] was the one to beat, and I followed her all the way. I saw there wasn't going to be time for both to get through there, so I took the easy route and went out."
Speirling Beag, a Group 3 winner in Ireland last year, raced between horses turning for home, then had to pick her way through traffic before gamely getting second from Cecile. That filly was forced inward by Speirling Beag in midstretch, then rallied nicely along the inside.
Bred by Kildaragh Stud, Bolivie is a daughter of Exceed And Excel out of a half-sister to Italian Group 3 winner Burma Gold, and French stakes-placed performer Burma Sea. Her second dam is European champion Britannia.
Bolivie sold for $110,284 to Haras d'Etreham as a Goff's weanling in 2020, and races for Haras d'Etreham in partnership with As One Racing, Silver Fox Racing, A.I.S, Falguieres Bloodstock and John Britt .
She won once from six starts in France for trainer Christophe Ferland before being sent to Brendan Walsh this winter.
Bolivie finished ninth of 10 in her North American debut, the Bourbonette Oaks over Turfway's all-weather track, then ran third in a "non-two" allowance on turf at Churchill on May 12, her final prep before the Searching.
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