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MENDELSSOHN, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner and one of Aidan O’Brien’s nominations for the Kentucky Derby in May, is likely to make his reappearance in the Listed Patton Stakes at Dundalk on Friday.
After Storm Emma scuppered any chance of racing at Dundalk last week the much-anticipated Kentucky Derby Race Night has been rescheduled for Friday evening. An additional fixture has been announced for next Monday afternoon, March 12th.
The feature race on a 32Red-sponsored eight-race card on Friday is the Patton Stakes, a listed race worth €75,000. The fixture will also contain a €25,000 All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier for fillies and mares.
The 32Red Patton Stakes is the penultimate leg of the ‘European Road to the Kentucky Derby’ points-based initiative that covers selected races in Ireland, Britain and France and will lead to the horse accumulating most points gaining entry to the famous Kentucky Derby, the first leg of American racing’s ‘Triple Crown’.
Regardless of whether he tops the points table, Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien plans on running his Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, Mendelssohn, at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby on May 5th.
O’Brien has had one previous runner in the Kentucky Derby, Master Of Hounds, who ran well to finish fifth in 2011.
Jim Martin, CEO at Dundalk Stadium, said: “The ‘European Road to the Kentucky Derby’ is a fantastic series of races and we’re delighted that the 32Red Patton Stakes is forming part of it. It will be the most-valuable race ever staged at Dundalk and will be the feature on what should be an excellent night of racing.”
Aidan O’Brien’s other Patton Stakes entries are Group 2 winner Seahenge, Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes fourth Threeandfourpence, along with the maiden Spanish Point, a son of Frankel, and debutant Cliffs Of Dooneen for the mile contest.
Among the other possible runners in a race laced with quality are good recent Dundalk winners Blackgold Fairy, Princess Yaiza, Zihba and Ship Of Dreams along with the maiden Irish Minister.
Dignitaries from Churchill Downs and Arena Leisure, who are responsible for the All-Weather Championships, will attend Dundalk on Friday on what promises to be a superb night of racing and entertainment. The first race is due off at 5.30pm.
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