French invader Daraybi makes U.S. debut
ARCADIA, Calif. – Daraybi won a minor stakes in France this year, two months before he was sold and sent to California. The colt’s French form and the way he has trained in recent weeks have left trainer Darrell Vienna and jockey Brice Blanc eager to run him in Sunday’s $75,000 Uniformity Stakes for 3-year-olds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.
The 6 1/2-furlong Uniformity will be Daraybi’s first start in the United States and his first race since a fourth in the Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis over six furlongs in France in late June.
“I think he’s ready to go,” Vienna said. “It depends on whether he likes the course. They either like it or they don’t. I think he’s been on the improve every week.”
Daraybi has won 3 of 8 starts and should be competitive in the Uniformity, which drew a field of eight. The field includes the stakes winners Forever Juanito and Red Outlaw, who is unbeaten in five starts.
KEY CONTENDERS
Daraybi
◗ By Street Cry, Daraybi is out of Daryaba, a winner of two Group 1 races in 1999 – the French Oaks and Prix Vermeille. The Aga Khan bred and raced Daryaba and Daraybi, who has since been bought by Jed and Roberta Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn.
◗ Daraybi’s only stakes win came in the Prix Marchand d’Or over 6 1/2 furlongs on firm turf at Maisons-Laffitte in June.
◗ He finished third and fifth behind Ectot in a Group 3 race in France in 2013 and a Group 3 in April of this year. Ectot won the Group 2 Prix Niel in Paris in September and was 17th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
◗ Blanc has been aboard Daraybi for several recent workouts and has sensed improvement.
“He’s shown a little more quickness,” Blanc said. “It’s hard to tell until they race. He acts like a talented horse. We’ll see if he can adapt to racing here.”
Red Outlaw (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-85)
◗ Red Outlaw was entered in Saturday’s California Flag Handicap, but trainer Peter Miller said Friday that Red Outlaw will start in the Uniformity Stakes.
◗ Red Outlaw has won three consecutive stakes, including the Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course in February. Red Outlaw figures to be favored with his perfect record.
◗ The colt has ample speed and should be a factor from the start.
Home School (Last 3 Beyers: 80-89-90)
◗ Home School was fourth behind Red Outlaw in the El Cajon Stakes over a mile on the synthetic main track at Del Mar on Aug. 29.
◗ The break since that race has benefited Home School, trainer Leandro Mora said.
Forever Juanito (Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-85)
◗ Last May, Forever Juanito won the Desert Code Stakes on the hillside turf course. The gelding has lost his last three races, including a third in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes on the main track here in June.