Kentucky Derby: Blanc de Blanc cruises to victory in Patton Race

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.

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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.

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