Two years and four days after Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) just failed to last and was defeated by Mr Speaker (Pulpit) in the reconstituted GI Belmont Derby Invitational S., Deauville got the job done for the Coolmore partners and Mrs. Fitri Hay, in the process giving his all-conquering sire his 58th Grade I/Group 1 winner worldwide. Fully 13 of those have been produced from Danehill mares, not to mention those out of mares by Danehill's sire sons.
A debut winner at Listowel last May, Deauville outgamed 'TDN Rising Star' Sanus Per Aquam (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) by a half-length in the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 23. Sent overseas for his final two starts at two, the bay dropped a narrow decision to Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in Newmarket's G2 Royal Lodge S. trying a mile for the first time Sept. 26, but could do no better than fifth in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster before calling it a season. Deauville turned in a smashing effort on his seasonal debut, finishing runner-up to subsequent G1 Investec Derby fourth Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in York's G2 Dante S. May 12, but never really reached contention last time in Derby, checking in 11th.
Dealt a blow when drawing widest in this field of 13, it proved of little consequence, as Jamie Spencer employed aggressive tactics and bounced the 6-1 gamble away from the gates and had already progressed to be a stalking second by the time the field entered the first turn. Deauville was well-rated and held his two-deep spot as Toughest Ombre (Tale of the Cat) bowled along up front and last-out GIII Arlington Classic hero Surgical Strike (Red Giant) galloped along in third. Spencer began to feel for his mount after six furlongs in a Euro-like 1:14.20 and Deauville was first to come after the pacesetter while drifting out a few paths into the lane. Late to swap leads, Deauville turned back a momentary bid from Camelot Kitten (Kitten's Joy), started to look for the line at the sixteenth pole and held sway late. Highland Sky, near the back of the pack early, switched out widest for the drive and whooshed home to just miss. 'TDN Rising Star' Beach Patrol was floated wide into the first turn and made a middle move into the first half of the field in the middle stages. Sent back inside in the stretch, he finished willingly to be an excellent third while covering 29 feet (about three lengths) more than the winner.
“I spoke to Aidan [O'Brien] earlier and he was adamant that if I got a good break, to be positive and lead if there wasn't a leader,” Spencer recounted. “When you set them alight, sometimes they don't switch off again. But he switched off great once he turned into the backstretch. He was full of energy and had plenty left in reserve for the stretch. He's a hard-trained horse who was ready for the day.”
Deauville's dam, a half-sister to G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Contredanse (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the latter's GSW & GISP full-sister Callwood Dancer (Ire). This is the further female family of Danehill's champion Desert King (Ire) and fellow highweight Maroof (Danzig). Walklikeanegyptian produced full-brothers to Deauville in 2014 and 2015. The Galileo/Danehill cross was also on display Friday via Danehill Dancer (Ire) when Alice Springs (Ire) defeated her elders in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket.
Saturday, Belmont Park
BELMONT DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $1,250,000, BEL, 7-9, 3yo, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.51, fm.
1–&DEAUVILLE (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Walklikeanegyptian (Ire) (GSP), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Ahdaab, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Dish Dash (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier &
Michael B. Tabor; B-Mrs F. H. Hay (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien;
J-Jamie P. Spencer. $670,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-0,
$814,201. *Full to The Corsican (Ire), GSW-Eng, $268,341.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”][bullet ad=”itm-g1″]2–Highland Sky, 122, c, 3, Sky Mesa–Kristi With a K, by
Petionville. O-Joyce B. Young & Gerald McManis; B-Bonner
Young (KY); T-Barclay Tagg. $230,000.[bullet ad=”hinklefarms-foaledandraised”][bullet ad=”hinklefarms-congratsbonneryoungandbarclaytagg”][bullet ad=”equix-optimatch”]3–Beach Patrol, 122, c, 3, Lemon Drop Kid–Bashful Bertie, by
Quiet American. ($250,000 Wlg '13 KEENOV). O-James
Covello, Sheep Pond Partners & Head of Plains Partners LLC;
B-Nancy C. Shuford (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $125,000.[bullet ad=”elmtree-salesgrad”][bullet ad=”albina-private-purchase”]Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 6.30, 6.70, 8.30.
Also Ran: Camelot Kitten, Surgical Strike, Long Island Sound, Applicator, Ralis, Humphrey Bogart (Ire), Airoforce, Aquaphobia, Toughest 'Ombre, Call Provision. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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