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Joseph O’Brien Shipper State Of Rest Finds Running Room Just In Time To Take Grade 1 Saratoga Derby

There was no rest for European shipper State of Rest (IRE) in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on Aug. 7 as the Joseph O'Brien trainee emerged from a crowd of closers just in time for the wire. The race is the second leg of NYRA's Turf Triple, which started with the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, won by Bolsohi Ballet.

John Velazquez piloted the 3-year-old colt, tucking in sixth mid-pack behind a blistering early quarter led by Cellist. As the field bunched up going into the final turn, State of Rest was caught up and shuffled down to the rail, where he was boxed in well into the final stretch. Velazquez saw space to swing out into the three path and once the colt got running room, he confidently powered past his rivals to win by a length.

Soldier Rising was second, followed by Du Jour. The final time for the 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon turf course was 1:53.35, with fractions of 1:35.92, 1:11.88, :47.54 and :21.96. See the full chart here.

State of Rest went off at odds of 21-1 and paid $44.20 to win on a $2 bet.

State of Rest comes to this race off a third-place finish in the Dubai Duty Free at The Curragh in June, and was also third in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last fall. He is owned by Teme Valley and was bred in Ireland by Tinnakill Bloodstock. State of Rest is the son of Starspangledbanner (AUS) and Quiet American mare Repose. He was a $80,543 purchase at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Whatton Manor Stud and purchased by Joseph and Aidan O'Brien. Previously, he was a $60,423 purchase at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, where he was consigned by his breeder and bought by Diamond Bloodstock.

G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Quotes, courtesy NYRA Press Office

Joseph O'Brien, winning trainer of State of Rest (No. 9, $44.20): “I thought Johnny [Velazquez] gave him a fantastic ride. The pace was pretty strong and he got him comfortable and came home strong. We knew he would like the firm turf and getting more distance today.

“He was unlucky not to win his last race. He ran really well and we knew that getting more distance today would suit him well. We'll get him home and talk to the owners and see how he is and see where we go next.

“He ran well the last time and we were figuring out where we could go with him. We figured this was a lovely spot and that the conditions would suit him well. We weren't sure how he would handle this level and he had never been around these turns before, but he handled everything really well.”

John Velazquez, winning jockey aboard State of Rest (No. 9): “The horse is actually a very, very nice horse and he was not really paying attention out in the post parade so I was a little bit worried that his mind wasn't on the business and that's what he did. He didn't break very well. I didn't panic. I just saved all the ground, looking for somewhere to go down the stretch and when I got him out, he responded really good.”

Christophe Clement, trainer of runner-up Soldier Rising (No. 1): “He ran very well, I am very happy. We finished second last year with Gufo and second this year. We'll have to find another one for next year.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., jockey aboard runner-up Soldier Rising (No. 1): “He missed the break a little, but it was his first time running in this country so I didn't panic. I just let him settle and be where he was happy. I tried to have a good trip after that and that's what I got, a really good trip. When I asked him, he was there for me.

“Christophe always told me that he thought he was more of a mile-and-a-half horse but the race was there and the horse was ready to run so I guess they have to run him. He's a nice horse. Really nice. I had a lot of power under me. He was running home but the winner was the best horse.”

Joel Rosario, jockey aboard third-place Du Jour (No. 2): “It was a very nice run. He responded very well. Turning for home he was a little tired and hesitated for a little bit. He ran really well today.”

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State of Rest Rolls Home In Saratoga Derby

Sent off the fourth-longest shot on the board for Saturday's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S., State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) took over a furlong from home and sped clear to cause a boilover in the $1-million second leg of the New York Turf Triple.

Drawn nine in a field of 11, the Joseph O'Brien trainee jumped fairly and was able to get over and save some ground beneath John Velazquez, setting in about sixth position and racing in free air as Cellist (Big Blue Kitten) led them along at a solid clip, with favored GI Belmont Derby hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) somewhat surprisingly his nearest pursuer through a half-mile that was posted in :47.54. Maintaining that mid-pack position down the backstretch, but in touch at the back of the leading group, State of Rest raced three back the fence in the slipstream of GII American Turf hero Du Jour (Temple City) as they rounded the second turn. Traveling on the bridle entering the stretch, State of Rest was pulled out and across the heels of Bolshoi Ballet nearing the furlong grounds, took command four off the inside and charged clear to win decisively. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was last to make the first turn and lingered towards the rear, then rallied inside in the stretch to complete the exacta. Du Jour kept on for third.

“I thought Johnny [Velazquez] gave him a fantastic ride,” said O'Brien, who sent out Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) to win the GII Belmont Gold Cup on Belmont S. weekend. “The pace was pretty strong and he got him comfortable and came home strong. We knew he would like the firm turf and getting more distance today.

The Breeders' Cup-winning jockey and trainer added: “We figured this was a lovely spot and that the conditions would suit him well. We weren't sure how he would handle this level and he had never been around these turns before, but he handled everything really well.”

A maiden winner at first asking at Fairyhouse last June, State of Rest was a good third behind Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster Sept. 12 before closing the season with a fifth to future G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. His lone appearance this term resulted in a running-on third in the Listed Celebration S. at the Curragh June 26.

“He was unlucky not to win his last race,” said O'Brien. “He ran really well and we knew that getting more distance today would suit him well.”

Pedigree Notes:

State of Rest is the third top-level scorer for his sire (by Choisir {GB}) and first going a route of ground, joining G1 Prix Morny hero The Wow Signal (Ire) and G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. victress Millisle (Ire). Repose is the dam of a Dandy Man (Ire) filly set to go sell as lot 205 from Tinnakill House at next month's Goffs Orby Sale and she is back in foal to Sea the Stars (Ire). State of Rest hails from the same female family of MGISW Music Note (A.P. Indy), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) as well as G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}), also a Grade I winner in this country.

Saturday, Saratoga
SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $1,000,000, Saratoga, 8-7, 3yo, 1 3/16mT, 1:53.35, fm.
1–STATE OF REST (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
                1st Dam: Repose, by Quiet American
                2nd Dam: Monaassabaat, by Zilzal
                3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED-STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE
I WIN. (45,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '19
TATOCT). O-Teme Valley; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE);
T-Joseph Patrick O'Brien; J-John R. Velazquez. $550,000.
Lifetime Record: 8-2-1-2, $607,668. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Soldier Rising (GB), 122, g, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sahrawi (Ger), by
Pivotal (GB). (240,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Madaket
Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables &
Michael J. Caruso; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (GB);
T-Christophe Clement. $200,000.
3–Du Jour, 122, c, 3, Temple City–Guiltless, by Bernardini.
($19,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Natalie
Baffert & Debbie Lanni; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC (KY);
T-William I. Mott. $120,000.
Margins: 1, 2HF, HF. Odds: 21.10, 14.60, 10.20.
Also Ran: Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Secret Protector, Cellist, Palazzi, Yes This Time, Cadillac (Ire), King Fury, Flashiest.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Caravaggio’s Agartha On Top in the Silver Flash

Joseph O'Brien trainee Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) was winless in four prior outings and went postward for Thursday evening's G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown as an almost unconsidered 16-1 outsider coming back off a two-length second to the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tackling this seven-furlong strip at the Foxrock venue earlier in the month. The February-foaled bay had placed behind decent sorts in all races contested to date, including a third to the reopposing G3 Albany S. fourth Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) in a May 30 Navan maiden and a second to subsequent Listed Tipperary S. victrix Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) contesting a June 23 maiden over six furlongs at Naas in her penultimate start. The eventual winner was sharply into stride and soon held sway with a two-length buffer. Allowed a breather rounding the home turn, she was asked to stretch passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out inside the final furlong to shed maiden status in style, becoming the second black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy). Agartha hit the line with 2 3/4 lengths to spare from Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), with a half-length back to Seisai (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in third.

“We've always had a very high opinion of her, she's done nothing but improve with each run and she's been running very well,” said winning trainer Joseph O'Brien. “Today we said we'd let her bowl along and she loved it. Maybe we were restricting her a bit much before and letting her bowl along today allowed her to get into a great rhythm. She galloped, they didn't let her go and they followed her along all the way. She's a good filly and I'd say she'll go further too. The dam won a mile-and-six [furlong] Listed race so she could certainly go a mile at two anyway. We'll probably head for the [G2] Debutante with her now.”

Agartha, half-sister to a yearling colt by Churchill (Ire), is the first of two foals produced by Listed Stanerra S. victrix and G3 Irish St Leger Trial third Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Arya Tara is the leading performer out of a winning half-sister to G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Astarabad (alleged) and Listed Trigo S. victrix Asmara (Lear Fan). Descendants of the latter include MG1SW sire Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift), MG1SW Australian champion The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and G1SP G2 Futurity S.-winning sire Arazan (Ire) (Anabaa).

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
FRANK CONROY SILVER FLASH S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 7-22, 2yo, f, 7f 20yT, 1:29.55, gd.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-2, $46,218. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Juncture (GB), 128, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Occurrence (GB), by Frankel (GB). O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
3–Seisai (Ire), 128, f, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Lillebonne (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€40,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £78,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; B-Peter Henley, John Connolly & Pattern Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 16.00, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Prettiest, Sablonne (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Irish St Leger For Baron Samedi

Three-time group winner Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})'s long-term goal is the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger, trainer Joseph O'Brien has revealed. A winner of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris last fall, the 4-year-old gelding returned this spring with a smart win in the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan on Apr. 25 and added the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. Stateside on June 4. In his latest run, he was fifth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 4.

“Baron Samedi has the Irish St Leger as his main target and may have a run before then,” said the County Kilkenny trainer. “If he does run before it will be in the Irish St Leger Trial.”

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