The European Highway to the Kentucky Derby swings again into motion March 3 on the Dundalk all-weather course in Eire after a four-month hiatus with a complete new solid of characters and an opportunity that no less than certainly one of them would possibly truly be searching for a path to Louisville.
The seven-race collection affords the general factors champion a assured spot within the Kentucky Derby (G1) beginning gate. Inaugurated in 2018, the European Highway has but to result in Louisville.
The primary 4 races within the collection are run within the autumn on the turf and appeal to 2-year-olds being screened for the European classics fairly than American grime occasions. Not one of the 2-year-old factors earners is again because the collection resumes with the one-mile listed Patton Stakes, which is able to award factors on a 20-8-6-4-2 scale to the highest 5 finishers.
The eight-horse Patton subject is numerous, with three fillies and entries from Coolmore and Juddmonte.
Of explicit word is Stormy Entry, a Charles Fipke homebred colt by Level of Entry , who has been lively all through the winter at Dundalk for coach W. P. Browne. He was second on debut in December, then landed back-to-back wins in January and February, relegating the great Joseph Patrick O’Brien trainee Money Out to second by a fraction of a whisker within the newest.
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Fipke additionally has a promising 3-year-old in Dubai, Shirl’s Bee , who completed second to Tall Boy within the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (G3) and will earn sufficient factors within the U.A.E. Derby (G2) on World Cup evening to make it to the Kentucky Derby beginning gate.
Fipke acknowledged he is fascinated with transferring on from the abroad engagements to the Run for the Roses if his horses are ok.
“What my goal could be is to win the Triple Crown,” he mentioned, whereas expressing doubt Stormy Entry can be ok to prime the European Highway standings.
“These are some gifted horses operating there,” he mentioned concerning the Patton subject. “I am unsure ours will be capable to run with them.”
If the highest finishers on the European Highway leaderboard decline an invite to the Derby, the supply is prolonged down so far as the fourth-place horse. If it ought to fall to Stormy Entry, would Fipke settle for?
“Completely,” he mentioned.
Cairo , a High quality Highway colt out of the Galileo mare Cuff , involves the Patton off 4 begins in 2022 for coach Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore companions, incomes two wins and two seconds. One of many seconds was over the Dundalk all-weather floor and the colt received at a mile on turf in his second begin. He received the Killavullan Stakes (G3) final outing in October at Leopardstown. Ryan Moore will get the leg up for the Patton.
Tiverton, a Juddmonte homebred colt by Skilled Eye , makes his 3-year-old and all-weather debut. He was final seen ending eighth within the Leopardstown stakes received by Cairo Oct. 15.
Joseph Patrick O’Brien has two within the subject. The aforementioned Money Out, a son of No Nay By no means , already has three begins by way of the all-weather season, progressing from an unplaced outing in November to a second Feb. 10 and a victory one week later—all at Dundalk. All Issues Good, a filly by Sioux Nation , received two of her first three begins in 2022 however beat none of her 23 rivals in her finale after lacking the beginning. She makes her all-weather debut.
Miss Caruso and Information At Ten have been knocking heads in all-weather occasions at Dundalk by way of the winter.
The collection continues with the Highway to the Kentucky Derby Situation Stakes at Kempton Park March 15 and concludes with the Cardinal Situation Stakes at Chelmsford Metropolis April 1.