A WAVE OF THE WAND
   Already successful eight times in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien produced the goods once again here as Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier’s Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) dominated the Curragh Classic and led home Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for a stable one-two in the process. Sent off the 10-3 second favorite, the winner of the 10-furlong G3 Dee S. at Chester traveled easily in third under Joseph O’Brien and, after passing the long-time leader Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole, stretched clear to score by 3 1/2 lengths. John Magnier was on hand to run the rule over the performance. "He was impressive and is an improving horse," he said. "Being by Galileo, he should stay further, and there are all kinds of options. We’ve done crazy things before, so we could run him at Epsom."

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 2000 GUINEAS-G1, €300,000, Curragh, 5-25, 3yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:36.81, gd/fm.
1–sMAGICIAN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Absolutelyfabulous (Ire), by Mozart (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lady Windermere (Ire), by Lake Coniston (Ire)
3rd Dam: Brigid, by Irish River (Fr)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Absolutelyfabulous Syndicate; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien; €174,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, €226,535. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Gale Force Ten (GB), 126, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)--Ronaldsay (GB), by Kirkwall (GB). (£280,000 yrl '11 DONAUG). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-S Tindall, D Ludlow & Stowell Hill Ltd; T-Aidan O’Brien; €60,000.
3--Trading Leather (Ire), 126, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)--Night Visit (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger; €30,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 10-3, 7-1, 6-1.
Also Ran: Havana Gold (Ire), First Cornerstone (Ire), Flying the Flag (Ire), George Vancouver, Van Der Neer (GB), Fort Knox (GB), Ask Dad (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   One of O’Brien’s slow-burners at two, Magician took three starts to get off the mark, but when it came over this track and trip in October, it was delivered in impressive manner by 6 1/2 lengths. Unable to back up that performance when fading into last in the seven-furlong G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown 13 days later, he re-emerged at Chester a wildly contrasting proposition and won the Dee S. with authority to suggest that Epsom could be on the cards. Instead, connections headed back here for a drop in trip, and the bay showed why, traveling with consummate ease off the hard tempo set by Trading Leather. Moving smoothly to that rival with all others struggling behind, he employed his stamina from the furlong marker home and the contest was over bar the shouting. "He’s a very tough horse and tries very hard, stays well and handles fast ground," said winning jockey Joseph O’Brien. "He is improving every day and has loads of pace. I couldn’t say he wouldn’t get further than 10 furlongs either." Aidan O’Brien appeared to play down thoughts that he could run in the Derby afterwards. "We always thought he had a lot of class with the movement and the looks," he offered. "You have to have a lot of speed for Chester, and he was sailing and traveling like a dream for the first half of the race. He’s very exciting. The lads are very tactically astute and will decide where he goes, but I’d imagine we might wait a bit with him. We’ll see how the horse is." Van Der Neer (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) was sent off the 5-2 favorite, but never looked likely to replicate his third placing in Newmarket’s G1 2000 Guineas and trailed in eighth.

Saturday, Belmont Park
SHEEPSHEAD BAY S.-GII, $200,000, BEL, 5-25, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:20, sf.
1--TANNERY (IRE), 118, f, 4, by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
1st Dam: Danse Grecque (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Greektown (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
3rd Dam: Edinburgh (GB), by Charlottown (GB)
O-Richard Santulli; B-Grange Stud (Ire); T-Alan E Goldberg; J-Luis Saez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire & GISP-US, 15-5-3-1, $312,020. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Anjaz, 116, f, 4, Street Cry (Ire)--Playful Act (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley (KY); T-Thomas Albertrani. $40,000.
3--Minakshi (Fr), 116, m, 5, Footstepsinthesand (GB)-- Maria De La Luz (GB), by Machiavellian. O-Northern Bloodstock; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (Fr); T-Michael R Matz. $20,000.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 5. Odds: 10.30, 21.30, 15.50.
Also Ran: Julie's Love (GB), Mystical Star, Hessonite, Strathnaver (GB), Starformer.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Tannery concluded her European campaign with trainer David Wachman with a victory in the G3 Kilboy Estate S. last July at The Curragh. Third in her stateside unveiling in the GI Garden City S. last September, she was eighth in the Oct. 13 GI Queen Elizabeth II Cup before ending 2012 with a close-up fourth-place effort in the Nov. 10 GIII Long Island H. The bay filly was fourth behind reopposing rivals Julie’s Love (GB) (Ad Valorem) and Minakshi (Fr) while making her 2013 debut in the Owsley S. over 1 1/4 miles of this turf course last time out May 1. Minakshi set the early fractions as Tannery settled off the pace while racing along the rail. Tannery tracked Julie’s Love’s inside move on the final bend and kept to the rail as her rival shifted to the outside. Tannery surged clear and held sway over the late-closing Anjaz. "We have a turf course at [Colts Neck Farm], but we’ve had such a wet spring and we weren’t able to train her over it and had to work her on the dirt," explained winning trainer Alan Goldberg. "We try to have our horses fit, but with her first start of the year being a mile and a quarter, I didn’t expect her to be completely ready. She came out of the race great, and I thought she’d handle the conditions today." Winning rider Luis Saez agreed Tannery had moved forward from her last start. "Last time when I rode her, I knew she needed the race," Saez said. "I felt today that I could win. My filly was coming out on the first turn because the wind was so strong. I saved ground and I found the hole on the inside, and I rode her strong."

Saturday, Arlington Park
ARLINGTON CLASSIC S.-GIII, $150,000, APX, 5-25, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:45 2/5, gd.
1--@GENERAL ELECTION, 119, c, 3, by Harlan’s Holiday
1st Dam: Menekineko, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Maison Close, by Spectacular Bid
3rd Dam: Magdalena, by Northern Dancer
($70,000 yrl '11 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo ‘12 OBSMAR). O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-Meg & Mike Buckley (KY); T-Kellyn Gorder; J-Joseph Rocco Jr. $83,700. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-0, $211,110. *1/2 to Ready’s Echo (More Than Ready), MGISP, $517,988. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Admiral Kitten, 119, c, 3, Kitten’s Joy--
Reachinforthestars, by Grand Slam. ($39,000 RNA yrl '11 FTKOCT). O/B-Kenneth L Ramsey & Sarah K Ramsey (KY); T-Michael J Maker. $27,900.
3--Gefest, 119, c, 3, Shakespeare--Snow Kid, by Lemon Drop Kid. O-Olympia Star Inc; B-Mikhail Yanakov (KY); T-Gennadi Dorochenko. $15,345.
Margins: 1, HD, NK. Odds: 13.10, 1.90, 40.70.
Also Ran: Dorsett, Procurement, Whiskey Bravo, Bells Big Bernie, Yorkshire Icon (GB), Brown Almighty, Bambazonki, Bobo, Fordubai.
Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.
   GENERAL ELECTION was second in the GIII Lexington S. routing over the Keeneland synthetic Apr. 20 last time out, was sent off as a 13-1 shot here. General Quarters saved ground along the rail down the backstretch, shifted into gear on the hometurn and took the lead before midstretch. He came out a bit late, but was straightened and finished a lengths ahead of Admiral Kitten. After an inquiry and a few claims of foul in the stretch against both General Election and the third-place Dorsett (Artie Shiller), the first-place result stood, but Doresett was disqualified and Gefest was awarded third.

COLD MOVE EBF MARBLE HILL S.-Listed, €52,500, Curragh, 5-25, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.44, gd/fm.
1--#COACH HOUSE (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Lesson in Humility (Ire) (GSW-Ire, MSW & G1SP-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $418,640) by Mujadil
2nd Dam: Vanity (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
3rd Dam: Penny Fan (GB), by Nomination (GB)
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lesson in Humility Syndicate; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien; €34,125. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €45,555.
2--Club Wexford (Ire), 129, c, 2, Lawman (Fr)--Masnada (Ire), by Erins Isle (Ire). O-D Bernie & Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger; €10,500.
3--Abbakova (Ire), 124, f, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)--Over Rating (GB), by Desert King (Ire). O-Dundalk Racing Club; B-T Jones; T-William McCreery; €5,250.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 4-6, 7-2, 16-1.
Also Ran: Fast in the Wind (Ire), Thrilled to Bits (Ire), Ain’t No Surprise (Ire). Scratched: Stubbs (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Run down late by Fast In the Wind (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) on debut over this track and trip Apr. 7, Coach House was off the mark by 6 1/2 lengths over the same distance at Tipperary May 2 and justified market support to get Ballydoyle off to a flyer in the juvenile category. Tracking Abbakova's fast early tempo in third early under a patient Joseph O’Brien, the bay worked his way past Club Wexford and to the front with a furlong remaining and drew away for a decisive score. "We thought he was a nice horse and he has speed enough for five, so he has all the options open to him at Royal Ascot," Aidan O’Brien commented. "Joseph said he showed lots of speed and that he even got there a bit early on him. He’ll maybe get six or seven furlongs in time."

Saturday, WoodbineNASSAU S.-GII, $206,612, WOX, 5-25, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34, fm.
1--#@SOLID APPEAL, 117, f, 4, by Successful Appeal
1st Dam: Star of the Woods, by Woodman
2nd Dam: Star of the River (GB), by Soviet Star
3rd Dam: Beautiful River, by Irish River (Fr)
($100,000 wlng '09 KEENOV). O-Jim & Susan Hill; B-Select Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Reade Baker; J-Jesse M Campbell. $116,292. Lifetime Record: 13-4-2-2, $284,381. *1/2 to It Tiz (Tiznow), MSW, $260,183; Meetmeinthewoods (General Meeting), MSP, $187,336. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.




2--Irish Mission, 118, f, 4, Giant’s Causeway--Misty Mission, by Miswaki. ($375,000 yrl '10 FTSAUG). O-Robert S Evans; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Mark R Frostad. $46,517.

3--Northern Passion, 116, f, 4, First Samurai--A Touch of Glory, by Golden Gear. ($95,000 yrl '10 KEESEP; $220,000 2yo ‘11 OBSMAR). O-John C Oxley; B-Mel P Lawson (ON); T-Mark E Casse. $25,584.

Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 1. Odds: 8.30, 1.60, 3.50.
Also Ran: Dancing to Town, English Class, Part the Seas, Transgression.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Solid Appeal, who broke her maiden over the Woodbine lawn in her seventh start last July, added an allowance win two starts later before concluding her sophomore campaign with a fourth-place effort in the Nov. 17 GII Mrs. Revere S. She returned with a 2 1/2-length allowance win in an off-the-turfer at Keeneland last time out Apr. 24. Solid Appeal broke sharply, but was taken in hand to race near the back of the pack. She took closer order leaving the backstretch and was three wide into the lane, while favored Irish Mission snuck through along the rail. Solid Appeal collared the pacesetter with a sixteenth of a mile to go and then outbattled Irish Mission to the wire to win going away.

Saturday, Betfair Hollywood Park
AMERICAN H.-GII, $150,250, BHP, 5-25, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:32 4/5, fm.
1--OBVIOUSLY (IRE), 121, g, 5, by Choisir (Aus)
        1st Dam: Leala (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
        2nd Dam: Silver Bubble, by Silver Hawk
        3rd Dam: Strait Lane, by Chieftain
(€2,000 yrl '09 GOFFEB; 130,000gns HRA ‘11 TATHIT). O-Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino; B-Deidre Cogan (Ire); T-Mike R Mitchell; J-Joseph Talamo. $90,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 14-7-4-2, $668,347. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--Lucayan (Fr), 118, c, 4, Turtle Bowl (Ire)--La Vltava (Ire), by Grand Lodge. (€17,000 wlng '09 ARQDEC; €85,000 2yo ‘11 ARQMAY). O-Pandora Stud; B-Jean-Pierre Colombu (FR); T-Neil D Drysdale. $30,000.

3--Barocci (Jpn), 115, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)--Bastet (Ire), by Giant's Causeway. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (Jpn); T-John W Sadler. $18,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3HF. Odds: 0.40, 7.20, 8.30.
Also Ran: Drill, Racing Aptitude, Chosen Miracle.
Click for the brisnet.com chart,  the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
   Obviously, winner of last year’s GII Del Mar Mile and GII Arroyo Seco Mile, found only Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry) and champion Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) too good after setting the pace in the Nov. 3 GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. He was flying on the front end in the down-the-hill GIII San Simeon in his first start of 2013, only to be caught late by Chips All In (North Light {Ire}) in his most recent outing Apr. 20. Obviously skipped out to the early lead and was unchallenged on the front end through fractions of :23.26 and :46.09. He spurted clear effortlessly on the turn, was in front by three lengths in upper stretch and was never in any danger. "He’s a good horse, he really is," confirmed winning trainer Mike Mitchell. "He does things like this so easy. He had a nice tune-up under his belt and he went into this really good. The thing is when we first got him, my son-in-law [bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell] picked him out and bought him. We were going to buy a different horse, but he kept saying, ‘There’s this horse tomorrow.’ So I said, ‘Let's go for that horse tomorrow.’ When they picked him out, he was totally a sprinter. We thought we had a sprinter on our hands. But when we routed him, now all of a sudden, ‘Wow!’" Mitchell is hoping for a return engagement in the Breeders’ Cup. "We're going to keep him at a mile, take our time with him and go for the [Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 2 at Santa Anita] again. He'll have another race here [the June 29 GI Shoemaker Mile]."

Havana Gold

© Racing Post Photo

It's Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh, and we've got all the bases covered... Is GI Kentucky Derby hero Orb (Malibu Moon) still the top 3-year-old in the country following his disappointing run in the GI Preakness S.? Find out who Lucas Marquardt has leading the way on The TDN Sophomore 10, and also what trainer Steve Asmussen has on tap for "TDN Rising Star" Teardrop (Tapit) in Today's TDN!!

Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CORRIDA-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-24, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 5/16mT, 2:21.16, vsf.
1--@GRACE LADY (FR), 126, f, 4, by Muhtathir (GB)
1st Dam: Parcelle de Sou (Fr), by Ajdayt
2nd Dam: Parcelle Coloree (Fr), by Comrade in Arms (GB)
3rd Dam: Kasumi (Fr), by No Lute (Fr)
O-Ecurie Victoria Dreams; B-Jean-Philippe Dubois; T-Tatiana Puitg; J-Gerald Mosse; €74,100. Lifetime Record: 13 starts, 3 wins, 8 places, €157,700. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Fate (Fr), 126, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)--Specificity, by Alleged. O-Fair Salinia Ltd; B-NP Bloodstock Ltd; T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; €28,600.
3--Romantica (GB), 126, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)--Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Andre Fabre; €13,650.
Margins: 3HF, SNK, NO. Odds: 10.30, 5.10, 2.70.
Also Ran: Sediciosa (Ire), Yellow and Green (GB), La Pomme d’Amour (GB), Pagera (Fr), Harem Lady (Fr), Fairly Fair (Fr), Victorinna (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for Equidia VIDEO.
   Previously trained by Michel Mace, Grace Lady had a steadily-progressive profile last term and was second on her black-type debut in this venue’s Listed Prix Coronation in September. Third in the Listed Prix Casimir Delamarre over another furlong the following month, the bay returned for the little-known Tatiana Puitg stable to annexe the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte also over nine furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 4 and had run into traffic when just over three lengths ninth in the G3 Prix Allez France over 10 furlongs at Chantilly last time Apr. 29. Settled in rear early by Gerald Mosse, she was the most animated to emerge from the bunch as the field fanned across the track at the top of the stretch. Striking the front approaching the furlong pole, she drew away from the blanket in behind, from which Fate emerged as her closer pursuant. "Last time in the Allez France, she was quite unlucky and would have finished in the frame with a clear run," the owners’ Racing Manager Laurent Benoit said. "She loves very soft ground and that really helped today. Now, there is not much left in France in the program so we will have to wait and see where we go next."

4th-CDX, $42,340, Msw, 2yo, 5f, :58 3/5, ft.
+SOUTHERN BLESSING (c, 2, Dixie Union--Yolie's Choice, by Silver Deputy) backed as the even-money favorite in his debut here, was last of five early, but steadily improved his position down the backstretch. The dark bay tipped out about four wide entering the lane and continued to rally down the stretch to take the late lead and finish a length ahead of Pontos (Tale of the Cat) under urging. Southern Blessing becomes his conditioner’s fifth 2-year-old winner of the meet. Sales history: $90,000 yrl '12 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo ‘13 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $27,000. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
O-Mike McCarty. B-Coast Stables LLC (KY). T-Steven M Asmussen.