‘Air Force’ Dominant in Phoenix

Looking just a work in progress when runner-up in the G2 Coventry S. when last seen at Royal Ascot June 16, Susan Magnier’s Air Force Blue (War Front) upped his game off a break to provide Aidan O’Brien with a remarkable 14th success in The Curragh’s G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Sunday. Having scored on debut from Rockaway Valley (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) over this track and trip May 24, the imposing bay had trailed Buratino (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by two lengths at the Royal meeting and was overshadowed by that British raider in the market. Held up in fifth early by a confident-looking Joseph O’Brien, the 9-4 second favorite traveled with purpose off the genuine tempo and when shaken up with a quarter mile remaining delivered a potent surge to grab the lead a furlong later. At the line, he had registered an impressive two-length verdict over stable companion Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who edged out Buratino by a half length. “He came forward well from Ascot. He won his maiden here and didn’t learn a lot and was a baby going to Ascot,” Aidan O’Brien explained. “He settled, traveled and quickened up well today and he was very professional. He put it to bed very quickly and he galloped out well. He has a few options now, including the G1 Prix Morny [at Deauville Aug. 23] but we’ll keep him at good ground or better so he could come back here for the [Sept. 13] G1 National S. He’s a War Front and a typical Danzig with a lot of speed and he’s always been very classy. It’s good to see the form standing up. The second and third were both Ascot winners and Washington DC has run a good race again. I’m very happy with him.”

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KEENELAND PHOENIX S.-G1, €250,000, CUR, 8-9, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.88, yl.
1–#@&AIR FORCE BLUE, 129, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Chatham (MSP-US, $156,431), by Maria’s Mon
2nd Dam: Circle of Gold, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Starlet Storm, by Storm Bird
($490,000 Ylg ‘14 KEESEP). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Stone Farm (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien. €145,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 3-2-1-0, $212,956. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.


2–Washington DC (Ire), 129, c, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–How’s She Cuttin’ (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). (75,000gns Wlg ‘13 TATFOA; €340,000 Ylg ‘14 GOFORB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-P Hyland, C McHale & J McHale (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €47,500.
3–Buratino (Ire), 129, c, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Bergamask, by Kingmambo. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. €22,500.
Margins: 2, HF, 1HF. Odds: 2.25, 10.00, 1.10.
Also Ran: Painted Cliffs (Ire), Rockaway Valley (Ire), Zebstar (Ire), Sixth Sense (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.