The filly Blanc de Blanc maintained her perfect record after two starts with a three-length win in Friday’s $47,200 Patton Race at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, part of the European-Middle East Kentucky Derby qualifying series. Ridden by Donagh O’Connor, Blanc de Blanc stalked stablemate Flanker Jet before taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining in the one-mile race. Blanc De Blanc was not urged in the final strides. She paid $5.40 as the favorite in American pools in a field of nine. Whatchadoin (6-1) and Redemption Road (17-1) finished second and third after stalking the pace. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2026: Top contenders, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Blanc de Blanc won a maiden race at a mile at Dundalk on Jan. 9. She broke from post 7 in the Patton Stakes. “She’s a big, strong filly,” O’Connor said in a televised interview in the winner’s circle. “She jumped well. I had to let her go forward to get in. I didn’t want to go wide. “She’s a filly that will get a trip in time. She has a big engine.” Blanc de Blanc earned 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, and currently ranks in a tie for second in the 10-race series. The Patton Race was the ninth race. The Group 2 U.A.E. Derby in Dubai on March 28 is the finale, and plays a massive role in the series. The first five finishers of the UAE Derby receive 100-60-30-15-10 qualifying points. Blanc de Blanc, and the other eight runners in the Patton Stakes, were not nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year. A second nomination stage, costing $6,000, is due on April 6. Blanc de Blanc, a Kentucky-bred filly by Not This Time, was purchased for $575,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She races for Amo Racing and trainer Robson de Aguiar. Blanc de Blanc is nominated to the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf in May. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.