Reddam Racing LLC’s Irap found a good place to break his maiden on Saturday at Keeneland, taking the lead after turning for home in the $1, 000,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and hanging on gamely in the stretch for a three quarter length victory. Although the 3-year-old colt by Tiznow had been second in the Cash Call Futurity (G1) and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), he was ignored at odds of 31-1and became the fifth OBS graduate to take the Keeneland fixture. Skip Away (1996) was the first, followed by Peace Rules (2003), Dance With Fate (2014) and Carpe Diem (2015). Consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, to the 2016 OBS March Sale, Irap turned in an Under Tack eighth in:10 1/5 before he was purchased by Dennis O’Neill for $300,000. Trained by Doug O’Neill, he’s on his way to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with an 8-1-3-1 record and $772,600 in earnings. watch his under tack video
Golden Eagle Farm’s Hillhouse High tracked the leader in Santa Anita’s $200,690 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2) into the lane, took over in the stretch and scored by half a length. It’s the first stakes victory for the 6-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, trained by Richard Baltas, now 23-4-6-6 with earnings of $441,113 to date. She was sold by Eisaman Equine, Agent, for $195,000 at the 2013 OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch her under tack video