Rakti Wins Derby Italiano; Purchased by Tanaka

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Racing in the colors of Scudero Il Poggio for the final time, Rakti defeated Aidan O'Brien-trained Ballingarry by 1 1/2 lengths in Sunday's Derby Italiano (Ity-I) at the Capannelle. The Bruno Grizetti trainee then has to sweat out a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run.

Rakti drifted to the right with a furlong to run which "slightly hampered" Ballingarry, according to International Racing Bureau charts. Ballingarry was shuffled back into third, but rallied to gain second approaching the wire.

Prior to the race, Rakti was purchased by Gary Tanaka, according to a Racing Post article. Under Mirco Demuro, the 3-year-old son of Polish Precedent completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.9 on good to firm ground. Fisich finished third, with Thompson Rouge fourth of 16.

The win marks the fourth in six starts for Rakti and his first in a stakes race.

"This is something special," Grizetti, who will likely continue to condition the bay colt, told Racing Post. "I didn't see any problem with the other horse. The stewards' decision is right."

Ballingarry defeated Castle Gandolfo by a length in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) last November. He then won his 3-year-old debut in the Prix Noailles (Fr-II) in April before finishing sixth in the Prix Lupin (Fr-I) earlier this month.

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