By Alan Carasso
Reddam Racing LLC's Irap (Tiznow) was already a veteran of seven races when he entered the gate for Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 8, still a maiden with creditable efforts behind the likes of now-retired 'TDN Rising Star' Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}), Royal Mo (Uncle Mo) and Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo) in graded stakes company. The $300,000 OBS March purchase put it all together that Saturday afternoon with a 3/4-length victory and in this weekend's GI Travers S. at Saratoga, a vastly improved version of Irap will get a shot at redemption against the deepest field of sophomores assembled since the first Saturday in May.
“It is just jaw-dropping, the amount of talent in this race,” trainer Doug O'Neill said during a national media teleconference Tuesday afternoon. “We're so excited and grateful to be a part of it. Any one of them can win, I wouldn't be shocked.”
Though he finished down the field behind Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky) in the GI Kentucky Derby in his next start, Irap has rebounded to win his last two, getting up in the final stride to win the GIII Ohio Derby June 24 before looping rivals with a wide run in the July 15 GIII Indiana Derby to score by a decisive five lengths. The quality of those performances was amplified when the runners-up, Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and Colonelsdarktemper (Colonel John), returned to win the GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. and GIII West Virginia Derby, respectively.
Irap has thrived on the frequent travel and has trained well since, including a stamina-building six furlongs in 1:13 flat over the Del Mar main track Aug. 19.
“He's really training well,” O'Neill said. “To see Irap put in that nice six-furlong work with a nice gallop out [a mile in 1:42, per O'Neill], it validated our optimism going into Saturday's race. Hopefully what we've been seeing on a daily basis we'll see Saturday afternoon.”
Not only has Irap progressed physically, but O'Neill says that his pupil has learned much over the last four months.
“He's always been a big, strong colt and always physically more mature than his peers. It took him a while to mentally figure it all out,” he commented. “I think the Ohio Derby really sent him forward and then we saw it again in the Indiana Derby. He continues to train like a mature horse mentally and we're optimistic. We're facing a lot of the horses from the Derby, where we got annihilated, but the traffic, the 20-horse field–he wasn't mentally ready for that. Come Saturday we're going to be ready for this challenge.”
Because he was slow to come along mentally, O'Neill says Irap was a bit one-dimensional early on in that he needed to be ridden for speed and given a clear trip. But versatility is something Irap has added to his repertoire.
“Watching our guy the last few weeks, he can definitely sit off a hot pace, he can come inside, outside, in between, which months ago, I couldn't say that about him,” he said. “I think the trip in the Ohio Derby where they didn't go that quick and he was behind that pace, it really just showed how everything is really just starting to click right now for Irap. I think if it's a slow pace [in the Travers], we'll be close, but if it's a realistic pace, I have no problem seeing him four or five lengths off of it early.”
Victory in the Travers, against a field that will also include GI Preakness S. hero Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) and GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit), puts Irap in the thick of the Eclipse Award discussion, O'Neill believes.
“This Saturday is going to make the picture a lot clearer,” he commented. “Obviously, if any of the Triple Crown race winners win, they lead the way, but if we were so lucky as to win Saturday, I think we are definitely in the mix. This race is so exciting anyways, but it's got a lot riding on it as end-of-year awards go.”
Owner Paul Reddam has a Travers win to his credit courtesy of Deputy Commander (Deputy Minister) 20 years ago. O'Neill has yet to visit the Travers winner's circle, but certainly relishes the opportunity.
“We're pumped,” he assured. “I know the humans are ready and we hope Irap is ready.”
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