Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Irish War Cry upsets a champion
HALLANDALE BEACH — The Road to the Kentucky Derby just got a little more congested.
Lightly raced Irish War Cry led at every call in Saturday’s $350,000 GII Holy Bull Stakes, stealing the win from troubled favorite Classic Empire. He won the 1 prep race in 1:42.52.
With the win, Irish War Cry picked up 10 points towards a Kentucky Derby starting spot. But as impressive as the New Jerseybred’s win was, equally as surprising was the effort handed in by Classic Empire.
The reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Male, Classic Empire was extremely sweaty and seemed uncomfortable loading in the gate. When the gates opened, Irish War Cry took the lead under Joel Rosario. Classic Empire trailed a length back outside Talk Logistics in the first turn and through the backstretch.
In the far turn, Classic Empire made his move, as did second choice Gunnevera, but had little to give in the stretch as Irish War Cry hit full stride and Gunnevera gave chase. The son of Curlin would finish 3 ahead of Gunnevera and 8 lengths ahead of a laboring Classic Empire.
Trainer Graham Motion said that he had considered waiting a week for the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs for the season’s debut for Irish War Cry, who came into the race unbeaten in two starts, but felt like he was training well enough to earn the opportunity to try the Holy Bull.
“I had a feeling we’d end up on the lead,” Motion said. “I thought (Classic Empire) might be on the lead, but he inherited the lead and he was very confident.”
As for Irish War Cry’s next race, Motion was unsure at this point, only adding that at least one more prep would be necessary. Historically, 20 points has served as the cutoff to make the Derby.
Mark Casse, trainer for Classic Empire, offered little in the way of excuse for the performance handed in by his pupil.
“He gets a little hot, but maybe hotter than normal, so I don’t know,” he said. “We will regroup.”
In the day’s other big race for 3-year-olds, the $200,000 GII Swale Stakes, Favorable Outcome made a wide move in the final turn under Javier Castellano and ran down favorite Three Rules in the stretch to win the 7-furlong race in 1:23.03. Sonic Mule finished third.
The win was the second on the day for Castellano. After the race, trainer Chad Brown said that Favorable Outcome would remain at sprint distances moving forward.
The $200,000 GII Forward Gal Stakes for fillies produced a mild upset as Tequilita held off favorite Pretty City Dancer by a halflength to win the 7-furlong contest in 1:24.36, giving meet leading jockey Luis Saez his second winner on the day. Brahms Cat finished third.
Two mile turf races rounded out the day’s stakes card. In the $100,000 GIII Sweetest Chant Stakes, favorite Rymska came from well off of the pace with a furious stretch run to win in a time of 1:35.04, giving Brown his second win on the day.
Finally, meet leading owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey claimed their second win in a race named for their standout sire, the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes, as Kitten’s Cat won by a head in 1:36.41.