Opera Ballo cruises to victory in Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
Opera Ballo performed to expectations with a four-length win in Wednesday’s $75,800 European Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park outside of London, the first race of 2025 in the European-Middle East qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.
Ridden by William Buick, Opera Ballo ($3.60) stalked pacesetter and stablemate Olympus Point to early stretch before taking the lead and drawing clear of five rivals.
“He was very smooth,” Buick told Racing TV in Britain. “We came here today not really knowing exactly what to expect. I didn’t want to make it too hard for him. I was pleased with him. I do think he’s a work in progress.”
Opera Ballo, who races for Godolphin Racing and trainer Charlie Appleby, was heavily favored on the basis of a win in a maiden race at a mile by 8 1/2 lengths at Kempton on Jan. 29 in his debut. An Irish-bred colt, Opera Ballo is by Ghaiyyath.
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Hott Shott (29-1) finished third, followed by 3-1 Saddadd.
None of the six entrants in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes were nominated to the American Triple Crown for $600 in late January. The next nomination deadline, with a fee of $6,000, is April 7.
Opera Ballo earned 20 qualifying points in the European-Middle East series.
For the first time this year, the Kentucky Derby qualifying format for Europe incorporates the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse on April 5, with 100 qualifying points available to the winner of that race. In the past, the UAE Derby has been on the list of major prep races for the Kentucky Derby.
The top two runners from the European-Middle East qualifying series will gain berths in the Kentucky Derby, provided they finish among the first four in the overall standings. Four qualifying races were held last September and October, though no horses that earned points in those races have been nominated to the Triple Crown.
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