Kentucky Derby: Hidden Force overcomes slow start to win points race

Hidden Force remained unbeaten after two starts with a comfortable win in Wednesday’s $81,000 European Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park in England.

The one-mile race is part of the European-Middle East qualifying division for the Kentucky Derby. Hidden Force earned 20 qualifying points, and currently is tied for second in the standings.

The European-Middle East division encompasses 10 races, beginning last September through late March. The series concludes with the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 28.

The first five finishers of the U.A.E. Derby receive 100-60-30-15-10 qualifying points. The top two runners in the rankings will receive invitations to the Kentucky Derby.

Al Haram, winner of the Group 3 Saudi Derby in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 14, leads the European-Middle East series with 30 qualifying points, and has been mentioned as a potential runner in the UAE Derby. Al Haram was not nominated to the American Triple Crown at the first stage last month.

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Hidden Force was not nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year. A second nomination stage, costing $6,000, ends on April 6.

In Wednesday’s race, Hidden Force (who paid $2.20 in American pools) overcame a slow start to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Ridden by William Buick, Hidden Force was last of four on the backstretch.

Buick moved the colt to the outside approaching the stretch. Third with an eighth of a mile remaining, Hidden Force took the lead in the last sixteenth and was hand-ridden to the finish.

Venetian Prince, a 5-1 chance, finished second, followed by Tadej and Utmost Good Faith.

Hidden Force races for Godolphin Racing and trainer Charlie Appleby. A colt by Frankel, Hidden Force won his debut in a seven-furlong race at Kempton Park in December.

Dundalk qualifier draws nine

The recent maiden race winners Blanc de Blanc and Liberation Date, and Flanker Jet, beaten a nose in an allowance race on Feb. 6, are among nine runners in Friday’s $47,200 Patton Race at a mile on the all-weather surface at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland.

The Patton Race is part of the European-Middle East Kentucky Derby qualifying series and the last such race in Europe. The first five finishers of the Patton Race earn 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points.

None of the nine entrants were nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year.

Blanc de Blanc won a maiden race at a mile at Dundalk on Jan. 9, his first start. Liberation Date won a maiden race at Dundalk at seven furlongs on Dec. 12 in his third start.

Flanker Jet has won once in seven starts, in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Dundalk on Jan. 27. In the Feb. 6 race at seven furlongs, Flanker Jet set the pace before he was outfinished by the filly Dancing Saxon.

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