North Light Tunes Up for Epsom Derby With Dante Win

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Ballymacoll Stud Farm homebred North Light tuned up for the Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I) when he took the lead with four furlongs remaining and held off a challenge to win the Totesport Dante Stakes (Eng-II) at York Racecourse on Wednesday.

Ridden by Kieren Fallon for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, North Light went off at 6-1 odds. The son of Danehill defeated a late-closing Rule of Law (by Kingmambo) by a half-length, with 3-1 favorite Let the Lion Roar another 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time for the distance of slightly more than 1 1/4 miles on good to soft going was 2:15.69.

The Dante was a second choice race for Stoute, who had entered North Light in the Lingfield Derby Trial but scratched the colt when the ground came up soft on race day.

The victory was the second in three career starts for North Light.

Also headed to the Epsom Derby is runner-up Rule of Law, who races for the Maktoum family's Godolphin Racing stable.

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