Wielding great might in Europe, the Aidan O'Brien arsenal has also proven one to be respected in many of the nation's top turf contests. That influence will once again be in evidence this weekend with the appearance of Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who arrived in New York Wednesday and are slated to contest Saturday's 10-furlong first legs of NYRA's Caesars Turf Triple series. The former, bred and co-owned by Peter Brant with Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, is set for the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, while Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Concert Hall takes on nine other fillies in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Runner up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two, Stone Age was a prominent winner of the 10-furlong G3 Derby Trial in May at Leopardstown before finishing sixth last time out in the 12-furlong G1 Cazoo Derby June 4.
“He showed plenty of pace [in the Derby Trial],” explained O'Brien. “He traveled very strongly and galloped through the line very well. There's a chance that going back to 10 furlongs might suit him better. We thought he would have no problem with the mile and a half [last out], but there might be a chance that it was too far for him. He seems to have come out of the Derby well.”
Ryan Moore, who is slated to ride both O'Brien runners this weekend, was also on board for last season's Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks with Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), respectively. O'Brien also captured the 2016 renewal of the Belmont Derby with Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), courtesy of Jamie Spencer.
Also considered for last weekend's G1 Coral-Eclipse S. won by Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Stone Age gets the opportunity to face fellow sophomores in New York.
“We had the choice of going here [to New York] or going to the Eclipse and we decided to come to [the New York] race, which is a race we thought would suit him well,” O'Brien explained. “Your race suits perfectly to give him another chance against his own age and then we can step up again against older horses after if we want.”
Also facing fellow 3-year-olds, Concert Hall will be attempting to give O'Brien his third victory in the race. In her two most recent races, she finished fourth in the 12-furlong Epsom Oaks June 3 and was elevated from fifth in the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. June 26 at The Curragh.
“She didn't have much luck inside the last couple of furlongs,” O'Brien said of her latest start. “She got a bad enough bump and squeeze and had to stop and go back to last and come around them again. She was staying on well at the line.”
At two, Concert Hall won The Curragh's G3 Weld Park S. going seven furlongs and returned this April to capture the 10-furlong Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. She subsequently finished third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May at The Curragh.
Further underscoring the influence of the O'Brien name this weekend, Aidan O'Brien's son, Joseph, will be represented in the Belmont Oaks by multiple group winning Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), who finished fifth last time in the G1 Irish Guineas May 22. The junior O'Brien, who recently confirmed he will keep a small string of horses in Saratoga this summer, took last season's Saratoga Derby with State of Rest (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is possible for either the July 27 G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood or Deauville's G1 Jacques le Marois next month.
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