Europe: Holland scores again

Darryll Holland, the regular rider of Breeders' Cup hopeful Falbrav, capped a big weekend in Europe on Sunday when he rode Pearl of Love to a half-length victory over Spirit of Desert in the Group 1 Gran Criterium at Milan.

Holland had ridden another 2-year-old, Milk It Mick, to a 33-1 upset of the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. In Milan, Pearl of Love, a Peintre Celebre colt trained in England by Mark Johnston, was the 4-5 choice off his second to One Cool Cat in the National Stakes. He was clocked in 1:40.10 for the straight mile on good to firm ground.

Ekraar was a two-length winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club & Coppa d'Oro, defeating the Italian-bred Maktub with Group 1 winners Warrsan and Black Sam Bellamy third and fourth. Trained by Marcus Tregoning, Ekraar got the 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.40.