Irish Prize Continues Winning Ways in Firecracker

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Sheikh Maktoum's homebred Irish Prize won a duel with Where's Taylor and posted a nose victory in Wednesday's $276,000-added Firecracker Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Gary Stevens for trainer Neil Drysdale, Irish Prize was unhurried and settled into last early as Strategic Mission took the lead in the one-mile grass race. After a quarter-mile in :23.06, Where's Taylor assumed the lead, followed by Aly's Alley. As Where's Taylor continued to lead on the inside, he was caught by Irish Prize and those two engaged in a stretch duel before the California horse posted the win. The final time for a mile over a turf course labeled good was 1:34.68

The victory was the fourth graded stakes win from five starts this year for Irish Prize, a 5-year-old gelded son of Irish River who most recently took the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park. He has now won eight of 20 career starts and has earned $848,513.

Following an objection lodged by Calvin Borel, aboard third-place finisher Aly's Alley, the stewards disqualified Where's Taylor and Aly's Alley was placed second. The stewards determined that Where's Taylor interfered with Borel's mount when he tried to close in between Irish Prize and Where's Taylor but was forced to steady and finished third. Irish Prize paid $3.80, $3.00 and $2.60, Aly's Alley returned $5.20 and $3.80, and Where's Taylor paid $5.40.

"This horse ran terrible here last year and I think had he not really been on top of his game today, we would have been in big trouble because he did not handle this turf course again, for whatever reason," said Stevens. "He just doesn't relish it, whether it's the travel he doesn't like or whatever. But he ran a hell of a race today. He was struggling with the turf, though, all the way around, whether it be from the rain or whatever reason."

"One horse came in and the other came out I had no place to go," said Borel. "I wouldn't have made the objection but my horse was full of run and was dragging me to the lead."

"I would like to have seen where the hole would have taken him and how he would have finished," said Nafzger. "He was willing and seemed like he had an excellent chance until they closed the hole on him. But that's racing and they rode like they're supposed to ride."

(Chart, Equibase)

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