Reddam Racing's Irap (Tiznow), upset winner of the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. two starts back, came out on top in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby after a gritty stretch duel and very tight photo finish with MGSW Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Away alertly, the 5-2 choice was settled to track in a joint fourth as GIII Spiral S. winner Fast and Accurate (Hansen) sprinted up to take control, clocking opening splits of :23.06 and :48.04 with Vibe (Astrology) and 4-5 favorite Girvin close behind.
Girvin swept to the lead with Vibe hot on his heels as Fast and Accurate called it quits on the backstretch run. Irap had that pair in his sights, however, and charged up two wide to take on the favorite as Vibe threw in the towel in the lane. Irap and Girvin battled stride-for-stride all the way to the wire and Irap was declared the narrow victor in a photo finish. “TDN Rising Star” Untrapped (Trappe Shot) came running late to complete the trifecta.
“He broke good and we had good position,” said Leparoux. “I was a little farther back in the first turn [than expected], but I was right behind Mike Smith [on Girvin], and I knew that was the right horse to follow. He's the kind of horse you have to ask pretty early, because he has that long, long stride, so I was able to get him going early and got there on time. I didn't know that I'd won, it was so close.”
Irap's best effort of four starts as a juvenile was a runner-up effort behind undefeated and recently retired “TDN Rising Star” Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. Kicking off 2017 with a pair of seconds in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and Mine That Bird Derby in February, the bay checked in fourth in the GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 26, a prep race that proved to be quite productive this term.
Still a maiden when sent off at odds of 31-1 in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 8, Irap stole the show beneath Julien Leparoux, graduating by 3/4 of a length over MGISW Practical Joke (Into Mischief) and MGSW “TDN Rising Star” McCraken (Ghostzapper). Bumped at the start of the GI Kentucky Derby May 6, he regrouped, but never factored and faded to 18th.
Pedigree Notes:
Irap is the last produce for the Quebec-bred Silken Cat, Canada's Sovereign Award-winning juvenile filly of 1995, whose first foal, the meticulously managed Speightstown (Gone West), won the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter in 2004 and has since become a sire of considerable import. Speightstown is one of four of Silken Cat's offspring to summon seven figures as a yearling, selling for $2 million at the 1999 Keeneland July sale. The others were Tigerline (Unbridled's Song), a $1.4 million 2003 FTSAUG buy; Cableknit (Unbridled's Song), a $1.7 million 2008 KEESEP purchase; and Amour d'Ete (Tiznow), a $1.75 million 2013 KEESEP buy who never raced and RNA'd for $725,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale carrying a foal by Super Saver. Silken Cat passed away in March 2016.
Irap was offered by Taylor Made on behalf of Aaron and Marie Jones at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale, but was led out unsold on a bid of $140,000. He was sold post-RNA to Brady Grady's Grand Oaks for $100,000, then sold for $300,000 as an OBSMAR juvenile.
Saturday, Thistledown
OHIO DERBY-GIII, $500,000, TDN, 6-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.48, ft.
1–IRAP, 124, c, 3, by Tiznow
1st Dam: Silken Cat (Ch. 2yo Filly-Can, SW, $102,120), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Silken Doll, by Chieftain
3rd Dam: Insilca, by Buckpasser
($140,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Aaron & Marie Jones (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill; J-Julien R. Leparoux. $300,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 10-2-3-1, $1,072,600. *1/2 to Speightstown (Gone West), Ch. Sprinter, GISW, $1,258,256. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”bobby-dodd-trained-at-grand-oaks-equine”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”winstar-eligible-youre-a-winner”]2–Girvin, 124, c, 3, Tale of Ekati–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon. ($140,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $130,000 Ylg '15 FTKOCT). O-Brad Grady; B-Bob Austin & John Witte (KY); T-Joe Sharp. $100,000. [bullet ad=”legacy-bloodstock-sales-graduate-congratulations-double”][bullet ad=”bobby-dodd-trained-at-grand-oaks-equine”]3–Untrapped, 120, c, 3, Trappe Shot–Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway.'TDN Rising Star' ($97,000 Ylg '15 KEEJAN; $150,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $125,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Michael Langford; B-Indian Creek & Jonathan Sheppard (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $50,000.[bullet ad=”indian-creek-bred-raised-and-sold-2″][bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”][bullet ad=”crupi-trained”]Margins: NO, 4 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.80, 0.80, 5.50.
Also Ran: Sorry Erik, Game Over, Hinton, Talk Less, Vibe, Fast and Accurate.
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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