Savethelastdance makes impressive rally to take Irish Oaks

Odds-on favorite Savethelastdance looked hopelessly beaten a furlong from the finish before coming out of nowhere to win the Group 1 Irish Oaks Saturday at The Curragh.

Obtaining a favorable position just behind the two leaders, her Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Library, and Lumiere Rock, Savethelastdance traveled well enough for the nine furlongs of this 1 1/2-mile fixture. But after the field swung into the long home straight and Azazat came alongside Savethelastdance’s flank, Savethelastdance appeared to lose all her momentum and was running in place. While Library stayed on gamely at 80-1, Bluestocking, the lone English filly in the Irish Oaks, made steady progress on the far outside and seemed like a near-certain winner a furlong from the finish. As Azazat faded out of contention, it left Savethelastdance racing in the clear again, and suddenly the filly, under heavy urging from Ryan Moore, found her stride. She came with a flourish outside Bluestocking and Library and won by a half-length, going away.

So surprising was Savethelastdance’s belated move that the filly rose as high as 999-1 in the in-running betting markets. Anyone willing to take an instant chance at that price got paid spectacularly; those placing standard wagers on the international tote got back $3.40.

Bluestocking finished second by nearly two lengths as Library finally surrendered through the last half furlong. Several fillies failed to fire over a soft course that produced a slow winning time of 2:43.11.

Second in the Oaks at Epsom last month, Savthelastdance’s first Group 1 victory also was her first Group stakes win of any sort. Owned by Coolmore, Savethelastdance is by Galileo out of Daddy’s Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy.

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