Sovereign Makes U.S. Bow in Man O’ War

Tabor, Magnier and Smith's Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winless since a blowout score in the 2019 G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, makes his first start on these shores in Saturday's GI Man O' War S. at Belmont Park.

Second to dual Cartier Horse of the Year Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for Aidan O'Brien at Ascot last July, the 5-year-old enters off a close third in the Bahrain International Trophy Nov. 20.

The rail-drawn, 8-5 morning-line favorite kicks off his campaign for Chad Brown, who also secured the 2014 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. with Minorette (Smart Strike) for the Coolmore partners.

“We received him over the winter at Payson Park and he's settled into a nice work pattern,” Brown said. “He came over very sound, and in great shape from Aidan. He sure trains like a horse with a lot of quality. I've seen him train on firm ground in Florida and he's fine with it. He can handle some cut in the ground.”

Brown continued, “I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel with him, so if he has speed, I wouldn't take that away from him. He's pretty forward in his breezes. He grabs the bit and goes on. If he breaks well and Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] wants to put him on the front, I would be happy with that.”

The field of eight also includes the talented Gufo (Declaration of War). His sophomore campaign was headed by a win in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. Oct. 3 and a close third, beaten just a neck, behind the talented Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) in the GI Hollywood Derby last out Nov. 28.

Domestic Spending, of course, returned to dead-heat for a win in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard with the latter right there in a close third.

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Equibase Analysis: Comebacking Gufo Well-Spotted In Man O’ War

Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park drew a field of eight top level marathon turf runners with seven having proven competitive at this level in races around North America. Then there's Sovereign, making his North American debut and returning to the races after last racing in November. Sovereign has earned $1.14 million in his career, top in this field, the bulk of that when winning the Group 1 Irish Derby in the summer of 2019.

Next in terms of earnings is Channel Cat, who won the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes in the summer of 2019 as well and who finished second in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes in his most recent race. Another horse which earned a big win in 2019 but not since is Ziyad, who was victorious in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Deauville in August of that year. He makes his third start in the U.S. since importing last fall and has two third place efforts since then. Gufo won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby over this course last fall and just missed in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby before taking time off, returning for his 2021 debut in this race.

Moon Over Miami won the Dueling Grounds Derby last summer, a race which doesn't yet carry a graded designation but with a seven-hundred thousand dollar purse similar to that of the Man o' War. Field Pass won the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes last year and makes his second start of 2021 following a fourth place effort in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile. Shamrocket has two wins in 13 career races, none in a stakes race although he was third in the Dueling Grounds Derby last summer. So High rounds out the field and is running in a stakes race for the first time while still eligible for allowance races.

Gufo returns to racing following five months off but that is of no concern when coming back in a marathon on turf like the Man o' War Stakes. Gufo won the second through fifth starts of his career starting in December, 2019, through July of last year when taking the Kent Stakes, then just missed by a head in the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational in August. Next, in his first and only start on the Belmont turf, Gufo won the Belmont Derby in October with a 104 ™ Equibase® Speed Figure which was very strong for a 3-year-old.

In his final race of the year, Gufo was exceptionally game when rallying from last of 11 to be in a three horse photo on the wire, losing by a head and a neck with a 107 figure. The horses which beat him that day, Domestic Spending and Smooth Like Strait, are near the top of the turf division in North America having just finished first (in a dead heat) and third last weekend in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes. Now a more physically mature 4-year-old, Gufo should run even better than he did last year and that makes him the one to beat in this year's Man o' War Stakes.

Field Pass is also a 4-year-old and has a similar pattern to Gufo which suggests he could run a big race in this situation. Last summer, Field Pass proved his stakes quality when winning the Audubon Stakes and Transylvania Stakes in succession. In October, Field Pass earned a career-best figures of 109 when third in the Twilight Derby, won by Smooth Like Strait (who finished third in the Turf Classic last weekend). After winning the Ontario Derby on all-weather in November with a new career-best 110 figure, Field Pass finished fourth in the Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (won by Smooth like Strait) before resting to begin his 2021 campaign.

In his comeback race last month, Field Pass was not disgraced when finishing fourth of nine in the Maker's Mark Mile and appears very well spotted to improve considerably in his second start of the year to be a factor in this race. Although he's never run this far, as a son of Lemon Drop Kid he should have no problem successfully running the distance because a STATS Race Lens query reveals the sire has produced four top graded stakes winners at similar distances.

Sovereign has been working steadily in Florida and New York for his U. S. debut. He is now in the barn of top trainer Chad Brown, who has a very strong knack with having his horses coming back from layoffs and making their U.S. debuts in top shape. A STATS Race Lens query reveals over the last five years, Brown has won with six of 22 (27%) similar starters in graded stakes. Sovereign earned the biggest win of his career when winning the Irish Derby in 2019 easily by six lengths. Since then, Sovereign has finished second or third in five races. One of those was when second to the incomparable mare Enable in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last summer at Ascot, an effort which earned a 117 figure good enough to win the Man o' War if repeated.

Honorable mention has to go to Ziyad, who earned a 111 figure last October in his U.S. debut when third and beaten just two lengths in the Sycamore Stakes. Similarly, Channel Cat earned a 115 figure last month when second in the mile and one-half Elkhorn Stakes. As such I wouldn't argue with anyone who considered them contenders to win this race.

Also, Moon over Miami earned a decent 109 figure when second in the Pan American Stakes at a mile and one-half at the end of March and may fit as a contender as well. I don't feel the same way about Shamrocket, who although earning a 109 figure at the end of March did so at a mile and one-eighth and in a non-graded stakes so appears a bit overmatched. So High is definitely overmatched in this field as his best effort earned an 89 figure and he is still eligible for the first allowance condition as well as was running in a claiming level race as recently as December.

Win Contenders:
Gufo
Field Pass
Sovereign (IRE)

Man o' War Stakes – Grade 1
Race 10 at Belmont
Saturday, May 8 – Post Time 5:44 PM E.T.
One Mile and Three Eighths on Turf
Four Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $700,000

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Irish Derby Winner Sovereign To Make U.S. Debut In Saturday’s Man O’ War

Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Group 1-winner Sovereign will make his first start in North America against a competitive field which includes four other graded/grouped stakes winners in Saturday's 63rd running of the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf for older horses at Belmont Park.

The Man o' War, NYRA's first Grade 1 turf stakes of the year, honors Samuel D. Riddle's all-time great, who was voted by multiple publications as the greatest racehorse of the 20th century. The champion's notable accomplishments include victories in the Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1920. Perhaps the crowning moment of his career took place when defeating 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton in a match race at the now defunct Kenilworth Park in Windsor, Ontario. A winner of 20 of his 21 lifetime starts, Man o' War's lone defeat took place in the 1919 Sanford, which he lost to the ironically-named Upset.

Sovereign will make his United States debut for trainer Chad Brown after being formerly campaigned by Irish champion trainer Aidan O'Brien. The son of international champion sire Galileo led from gate-to-wire to capture the Group 1 Irish Derby at The Curragh in 2019 by six lengths over former stablemates Anthony Van Dyck and Norway.

Winless in five starts since the Irish Derby, Sovereign finished second to dual Cartier Horse of the Year Enable in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in July 2020 at Ascot. Not short on mileage, he arrives at the Man o' War off a close third in the Bahrain International Trophy on November 20.

Sovereign has been in a consistent work pattern since first breezing under Brown's care in late February. He most recently went five furlongs over the Belmont inner turf in 1:02.54 on Sunday.

“We received him over the winter at Payson Park and he's settled into a nice work pattern,” said Brown, who trained 2016 Man o' War hero Wake Forest. “He came over very sound, and in great shape from Aidan. He sure trains like a horse with a lot of quality. I've seen him train on firm ground in Florida and he's fine with it. He can handle some cut in the ground.”

Sovereign, who will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., typically showed early speed in his races in Europe, and Brown said he expects the horse to be forwardly-placed on Saturday as well.

“I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel with him, so if he has speed, I wouldn't take that away from him,” Brown said. “He's pretty forward in his breezes. He grabs the bit and goes on. If he breaks well and Irad wants to put him on the front, I would be happy with that.”

Brown is closing in on 100 graded stakes wins at Belmont Park, currently boasting a total of 97 graded stakes wins at the historic track. On Saturday, he also will also saddle Nay Lady Nay and Lemista in the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay, as well as Risk Taking in the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan.

“I'm extremely grateful and humbled to be at this point in my career already. I'm extremely happy to share this with my team,” Brown said. “It's been extremely rewarding to watch over the last almost 15 years, to see all of the teamwork, and great horses come through the barn, and all the sacrifices that people have made.”

Bred in Ireland by Barronstown Stud, Sovereign is out of the Danehill Dancer mare Devoted To You. The lone millionaire in the field, Sovereign boasts lifetime earnings of $1,149,940.

Sovereign will break from post 1.

Never worse than third in eight lifetime starts, Otter Bend Stables' Gufo will look to put his best foot forward in his 2021 debut for trainer Christophe Clement, while bragging a consistent 8-5-1-2 record.

The son of Declaration of War was a late-closing third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, where he came from last-of-11 and made a surging move in the stretch to finish a neck to next-out winners Domestic Spending and Smooth Like Strait.

Gufo returns to Belmont Park for his first start since capturing the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at ten furlongs on October 3. Prior to his breakthrough win, he made deep-closing winning moves in the English Channel last May at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Kent on July 4 at Delaware Park.

Gufo, who had been training at Payson Park in Indiantown, Florida, shipped into Belmont and recorded a five-furlong work in 1:00.76 on the inner turf on Sunday.

“He had a nice work on Sunday morning and we're looking forward to running him in the Man o' War,” said Clement, who saddled Gio Ponti to back-to-back Man o' War scores in 2009-10. “He came out of it very well and I was very pleased with it.”

Gufo will be piloted by Joel Rosario, a two-time winner of the Man o' War, from post 8.

Wertheimer and Frere's Ziyad has been third in a trio of North American starts but seeks his first Grade 1 victory in his third start for trainer Graham Motion.

He made his debut for his current trainer in the Grade 3 Sycamore on October 15 at Keeneland, finishing two lengths to Red Knight before coming ten lengths off the pace to finish a half-length shy of North Dakota in the Grade 3 Red Smith on November 21 at Aqueduct.

The 6-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar previously raced in France for Carlos Laffon-Parias, for whom he ran third in the Grade 1 Canadian International in October 2019 at Woodbine after setting an easy pace, only to get outkicked by Desert Encounter.

When racing in France, he kept salty competition, finishing a neck shy of victory in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud two years in a row, losing to accomplished runners Coronet and Way to Paris.

“I think he's pretty adaptable,” said Motion, who won the 2005 Man o' War with Better Talk Now. “He came to me straight from France to Keeneland last fall, so I didn't have much time to get to know him before his race there. Now that I've had him for a while, I've gotten to know him quite better. He's a very straightforward horse that's been training very well this year so far. I feel that he's ready for a race like this. On his form he's competitive against this group.”

Manny Franco retains the mount from post 3.

Calumet Farm's Channel Cat nears millionaire status while attempting a fourth stakes victory. The son of English Channel trained by Jack Sisterson has not won since going gate-to-wire in the Grade 2 Bowling Green in July 2019 at Saratoga, and was most recently second in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 17 at Keeneland.

Channel Cat has put together a record of 25-5-3-5, with earnings of $998,522 and will leave from post 5 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Three Diamonds Farm's three-time graded stakes winner Field Pass will look to give trainer Mike Maker his first Man o' War victory.

During his sophomore season, the son of Lemon Drop Kid captured a trio of Grade 3 events, including the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and the Ontario Derby at Woodbine over all weather surfaces, as well as the Grade 3 Transylvania over the Keeneland turf. He will see a considerable stretch-out in distance after finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile on April 9 at Keeneland.

Jockey Luis Saez will ride Field Pass from post 7.

After capturing the Man o' War 32 years apart with Theatrical [1987] and Channel Maker [2019], Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sends out three-time winner Moon Over Miami.

Owned by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine, Moon Over Miami arrives at the Man o' War off a pair of graded stakes placings over firm turf at Gulfstream Park, where he was third in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmada on February 27 and second in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 27.

The son of Malibu Moon began his career over the main track, breaking his maiden at second asking by five lengths in November 2019 at Aqueduct. After defeating winners in his third start on grass, Mott kept the bay 4-year-old colt on turf and earned a stakes win in the Dueling Grounds Derby on September 10 at Kentucky Downs.

“He's held up pretty well for what we've done with him,” Mott said. “We've realized that he does want to run on and go a little further. We've discovered that he does that pretty well and is better at the staying distances than he is at the middle distances.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado will pilot Moon Over Miami from post 2.

Donegal Racing's Shamrocket will receive some added distance when breaking from post 6 for newly minted Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. The son of third-crop sire Tonalist was a close second against Florida-breds going nine furlongs in the Turf Classic on March 28 at Tampa Bay Downs.

On the board in each start except for his career debut, Shamrocket earned an open company stakes-placing in the Dueling Grounds Derby finishing 4 ½ lengths to Moon Over Miami. He then followed up with a three-quarter length triumph over Florida-bred winners in his sophomore finale on December 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Shamrocket will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Rounding out the field is Knight R.B. Stables' So High [Eric Cancel, post 4] for trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul, who is no stranger to upsetting Grade 1 turf events on the NYRA circuit, having captured the 2011 Manhattan with Mission Approved.

The Man o' War is slated as Race 10 on Belmont's 11-race Saturday program. First post is 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

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Sovereign Headlines Strong Cast For Friday’s Bahrain International Trophy

Friday's £500,000 (approximately US$591,750) Bahrain International Trophy has drawn a strong cast for the 2020 renewal, topped by 2019 Irish Derby hero Sovereign.

Supplemented at a cost of £10,000, Sovereign will be trainer Aidan O'Brien's first ever runner in Bahrain, and jockey Ryan Moore ships in to ride from post eight in the field of 14.

The Ballydoyle master said: “Sovereign is a strong mile-and-a-quarter horse. He is a very strong galloper who likes to go forward in his races, and we think the Bahrain International Trophy will suit him.”

Racecourse Media Group in partnership with the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club have secured widespread global coverage, and the race will be shown on on Fox Sports in the United States with an approximate post time of 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

Adding further top-level interest on Nov. 20 is the Japanese-trained mare Deirdre (Mitsuru Hashida), whose big wins include last year's Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Other strong contenders include: last year's Queen Anne Stakes winner Lord Glitters representing David O'Meara, dual Canadian International Stakes winner Desert Encounter runs for David Simcock, and Saeed bin Suroor calls on 2019 Jebel Hatta victor Dream Castle.

Barney Roy has suffered a minor setback and will miss the race, but Godolphin will still be doubly represented – with Mark Johnston's Royal Ascot winner Dark Vision joining Dream Castle.

John Gosden saw Turgenev finish second in the inaugural race last year and will be hoping to go one better with Global Giant, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori for owner HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Andrew Balding and King Power Racing were sixth with Pivoine in 2019 and are back this year with Bangkok – while Lady Wannabe (Fozzy Stack), Certain Lad (Mick Channon), Pogo (Charlie Hills) and Quest The Moon (Sarah Steinberg) complete the European challenge.

Two spots in the field are guaranteed for locally-trained horses, and the two Bahraini-based contenders are confirmed as Port Lions (Fawzi Naas) and What A Welcome (Hesham Al Haddad).

Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al-Khalifa, executive director of Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the class of horses that we have attracted to this year's Bahrain International Trophy.

“To have five individual Group One winners in the field – compared to only one last year – shows the leap in quality. We are very grateful to the trainers and owners for placing their trust in Bahrain, and we very much look forward to welcoming them.”

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