Aidan O’Brien will scratch all of his Sunday runners-including his four contenders for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-after results of a urine test came back positive for Zilpaterol from contaminated feed. France Galop and feed company GAIN alerted horsemen on Thursday that a handful of positives for the synthetic substance, which is unlicensed in Europe, had been returned, with GAIN recommending customers to stop feeding their products while they complete an investigation into how the contamination occurred.
O’Brien revealed on Friday that he fed the products in question and that blood and urine samples from all his weekend runners had been sent out for testing. His two Saturday runners at ParisLongchamp, Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mythical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came back negative and ran, but positive tests mean that Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will sit out the Arc.
A statement from Ballydoyle read, “Unfortunately the results of the urine samples taken from the horses yesterday have come back positive from the French laboratory. There is a possibility that the contaminant may have left their system by the time of racing tomorrow however we have no guarantee of this and in order to protect the integrity of racing we have decided to withdraw all our horses from racing tomorrow. Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien will do likewise.”
Other high-profile runners for O’Brien on the Arc card were to include St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de la Foret. Joseph O’Brien will withdraw Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) from the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, while Donnacha O’Brien’s Classic-winning Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will be a non-runner in the G1 Prix de l’Opera.
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Leinster had a more eventful trip than it might appear in Saturday's Grade 2 Woodford Stakes, owing to the strap from his over girth coming loose from its keepers, but it didn't hinder what was otherwise a stellar performance in the turf sprint.
The 5-year-old son of Majestic Warrior carried on what has already been a successful 2020 at Keeneland, after winning the track's marquee turf sprint race of the July meet, the G2 Shakertown Stakes, in track-record time. Adding another Keeneland win puts him in a strong position to carry that home-course advantage into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at the same track.
On Saturday, Leinster broke sharply under jockey Luis Saez, and stayed within striking distance of leader Just Might. The strap on Leinster's girth was already loose and swinging by the time the field got through an opening quarter in :21.90 seconds, but Saez remained secure in the irons throughout the trip.
Just Might led the field through the turn and held on to the advantage, but Leinster gradually drew even with the pace setter approaching the final eighth, and he kicked on to win by a half-length over a late-gaining Extravagant Kid. Just Might continued on for third.
Leinster stopped the clock in the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:01.59 over a fast turf course, a tick slower than his course-record time at the same distance in the Shakertown, which he completed in 1:00.86. He won the race for owners Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables, and Jean Wilkinson, and he was trained by Rusty Arnold. Leinster paid $7.80 to win as the favorite.
To view the full race chart, click here.
Quotes from the $150,000 Woodford Presented by TVG, courtesy of the Keeneland notes team
Rusty Arnold (winning trainer of Leinster)
“We had a little setback – he had a foot problem. We actually were going to run him at Kentucky Downs. We didn't get to run. Maybe it's a blessing because he stayed right here on his home track. He got to work on this turf course a couple of times – I think that's a big edge. Worked out good.”
Luis Saez (winning rider)
“He broke pretty sharp. He put me on the lead, but we didn't really want to be there. We wanted to track somebody. We had a perfect position, and I had a lot of horse. He just took off.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Extravagant Kid)
“I am very pleased with his effort today. He has a tendency to kind of wait on horses when he makes the lead, so I was trying to time it right. We got beat by a really nice horse. I am pleased with what my horse gave today and I am looking forward to next time.”
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