Two also-rans at Churchill Downs in May staged a stirring finish Saturday at Thistledown.
A rallying Irap nosed out Girvin in the Grade 3 $500,000 Ohio Derby, which drew four horses from the Kentucky Derby. Untrapped, third in Oaklawn Park's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes in March, was third and Oaklawn maiden-claiming winner Game Over placed fifth in the field of nine 3-year-olds.
Girvin, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner at Fair Grounds, overtook Grade 3 Spiral winner Fast and Accurate after a half-mile and beat back challenges from Vibe and Game Over. Irap moved outside in the stretch to catch Girvin and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, getting the fast-rated nine furlongs in 1:50.48.
A half-brother to champion Speightstown sired by two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, Irap has two wins, both in graded stakes, from 10 starts and became a racing millionaire Saturday. He paid $7.60, $3 and $2.40 to bettors in the Ohio Derby.
Ridden Saturday by Julien Leparoux, who piloted Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Irap is owned by Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O'Neill. The same connections won the Kentucky Derby with I'll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016, I'll Have Another also taking the Preakness and Mario Gutierrez riding both horses.
Irap gained his maiden victory in the April 8 Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland but was 18th of 20 in the Kentucky Derby. With third-place Derby finisher Battle of Midway taking the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, four horses from the Louisville classic have come back to win. Tapwrit took the June 10 Belmont Stakes in New York and McCraken the Grade 3 Matt Winn June 17 at Churchill Downs.
Untrapped, owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, made his first start since placing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. The Trappe Shot colt, though stakes placed four times when second or third, still seeks his first stakes victory.
Sports on 06/25/2017