Trip to the States pays off for Bellum Justum in Nashville Derby

Not until this year did European-style Kentucky Downs begin earnestly attempting to lure European runners to its seven-day racing season. They are coming in far greater numbers for the 2024 races, and the Europeans next year might be pouring into Franklin, Ky., after Bellum Justum shipped from England and won the Grade 3 Nashville Derby on Saturday.

Being bred in Ireland, Bellum Justum wasn’t eligible for the $1.2 million in purse money reserved for Kentucky-breds. His connections, King Power Racing and trainer Andrew Balding, still got a million-dollar payday, with Bellum Justum taking down the $1,054,31 winner’s share of a $2,337,160 total pot.

Bellum Justum had been facing better horses in England than he did Saturday in Kentucky, and it showed. With an assist from a perfect ride by Frankie Dettori, who won his third race on the card while hanging his tack for the first time at Kentucky Downs, Bellum Justum proved 1 3/4 lengths best over Carson’s Run, who made a late move up the fence to nip 29-1 shot Rothschild for second.

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Bellum Justum in the early stages of this 1 5/16-mile contest, one full circuit around the course, wasn’t far ahead of Carson’s Run, who raced from 11th in a 12-runner field. While Bellum Justum has pace, he broke poorly and was quickly out the back door. Dettori never panicked, relaxing his mount while he began hunting position as the field moved onto the back part of the course, easing up the fence to nestle just a few lengths behind the pacesetter, Navy Seal. Dettori avoided the inside lanes on the course, Bellum Justum putty in his hands around the far turn as Dettori bided his time. Abrumar came through along the fence to take the lead with about three furlongs remaining, and after contemplating an outside run, Dettori went inside Navy Seal and outside Abrumar as Bellum Justum surged forward to take the lead. Dettori moved back up to the crown of the track for a final swoop into the last little dogleg before the finish, and Bellum Justum was home.

“He absolutely flubbed the start. I was way too far back,” Dettori said. “On this track, on the back straight, I was able to make a good improvement to get a slot, because I knew he would stay very well.”

Favored at 2-1, Bellum Justum paid $6.44 to win and was timed in 2:07.28 while racing over a firm course with the temporary rail set at 50 feet. Bellum Justum is by Sea the Stars out of Natural Beauty, by Oasis Dream. Seventh in the Derby this past June, the colt was coming off a narrow loss in the Gordon Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at Goodwood, after which Balding gave the go-ahead for a trip across the pond. It paid off handsomely.

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