Pair of Euros invade for rematch in Belmont Derby
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Title Role and Pacific Avenue finished one-two in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas in Dubai in February, and both have maintained good form in the interim. Saturday, the pair of European invaders bring that form to Saratoga, where they’ll face eight U.S.-based 3-year-olds in a seemingly wide-open renewal of the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby at Saratoga.
The Belmont Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles, goes as race 9 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:35 p.m. and includes the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, the Grade 2 Suburban, and Grade 3 Sanford.
Title Role has won three of his last four starts, including the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas last out. His lone defeat from his last four starts came in a Group 3 stakes going seven furlongs at Newbury. That race was run down a straightaway, and Title Role was too keen early.
“He’s got plenty of ability,” said Simon Crisford, who, along with his son Ed, trains Title Role. “It’s his first time over this distance, but he likes turning tracks. That should play into his strengths. He’s approaching this race in very good form, and we think his form is good enough to give him a chance. . . . The extra furlong is not going to be a problem, we don’t anticipate.”
Title Role, who will be ridden by John Velazquez, will be making his first start for owner Will Stroud, a Texas-based businessman who two weeks ago purchased majority interest in the colt from Coolmore. Stroud said while the Crisfords will be in charge of Title Role’s training for the near-term, the colt will eventually be transferred to Brendan Walsh and remain in America.
After running second to Title Role, Pacific Avenue finished second in a listed stakes at Goodwood and then was third, as a 40-1 longshot, four lengths behind Gstaad, in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Gstaad, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last fall, came out of the Guineas to run second, beaten a nose, in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting.
Pacific Avenue, a son of Dubawi, is trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin. William Buick is in to ride. Pacific Avenue will be attempting nine furlongs for the first time.
“Back last year as a 2-year-old, he showed solid form and then to step up in the Irish 2000 Guineas the way he did was a very pleasing sign and that booked his ticket to come here,” said Chris Connett, assistant to Appleby. “It’s a new distance for him, but he’s shown, in his last race particularly, he was finishing off really strong. It wouldn’t be a surprise for him to be hitting the line hard at a mile and one [-eighth] as well.”
The domestic contingent is led by Kentucky-based runners West End Kid, Remember Mamba, and Touch of Fire.
West End Kid, trained by Will Walden, has won three consecutive races, including the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge, a race in which he defeated Blackmail and Bottas, both of whom are in this race.
“He’s won going a mile and a sixteenth his last three starts, but I always felt like longer would be better,” Walden said. “I think he could go nine, maybe 10 furlongs.”
Though West End Kid is 3 for 3 since adding blinkers, Walden said he would like to take them off the horse, but the New York stewards would not permit the requested change, telling Walden the horse, with blinkers, is not a safety threat to the other horses.
“We put them on to focus him, but he doesn’t need them anymore,” Walden said.
West End Kid shows only one workout since his victory in the Pennine Ridge. Walden said the track at Churchill was wet all last weekend, so he didn’t work him.
Stark Contrast would likely have been favored in the Belmont Derby but didn’t come because trainer Michael McCarthy was not happy with his training. Remember Mamba finished second to Stark Contrast in the Grade 1 American Turf, his first career defeat in four starts, a streak that included a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland. He began his career with a maiden win going this 1 1/8-mile distance.
Speaking of the American Turf, Cherie DeVaux, trainer of Remember Mamba, said “We had an outside post, I think that hindered us a little bit. He is doing great. He’s a horse that’s shown a lot of promise, been there every race.”
Touch of Fire, trained by Brad Cox for Juddmonte, has won 3 of 4 starts, including a three-length victory in the Audubon Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on May 30 at Churchill Downs. He will have to overcome the outside draw in this 10-horse field.
Tiernanogue, who had trouble early, recovered to finish second to Touch of Fire in the Audubon in his first try on turf. Third Coast, winner of the Jersey Derby at Monmouth, and Turf Star, winner of the James Murphy at Laurel on Preakness Day, complete the field.
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