After finishing second in his stateside debut, Irish-born Nations Pride did it one better on Saturday, and drew clear to win the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course.
The 3-year-old Teofilo colt was settled in on the rail by visiting jockey William Buick, tucked in third behind pacesetter Classic Causeway, and longshot Main Event on the outside. Classic Causeway, who defeated Nations Pride during their previous meeting in the Belmont Derby Invitational, maintained a 1 1/2-length cushion over Main Event through the first turn, and set an opening quarter in :29.42 seconds.
The lead trio remained unchanged as the field crossed the backstretch through an opening half-mile in 51:37 seconds, but Main Event began to give up his position on the outside as they entered the final turn. Classic Causeway continued to maintain a comfortable cushion as he led Nations Pride into the stretch, but Buick swung his mount to the outside of the leader as they headed into the straightaway.
Under left-handed urging by Buick, Nations Pride overtook Classic Causeway in the final furlong, and he drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Annapolis staged a late move from the middle of the pack to nip Classic Causeway for third.
Nations Pride stopped the clock for the 1 3/16-mile turf race in 1:45.26 over a firm course. He paid $6.20 to win as the post time favorite.
Nations Pride is a homebred for Godolphin's Irish operation, trained by Charlie Appleby.
Saturday's victory was the colt's first graded or group stakes win, improving his record to five wins in eight starts for earnings of $899,216.
Prior to his U.S. debut in the Belmont Derby Invitational on July 9, Nations Pride had established himself as a reliable runner in the Eastern Hemisphere, winning races in England and the U.A.E., including the Newmarket Stakes in England. His final start before testing U.S. company was an eighth place effort in the Group 1 Cazoo Derby.
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