Title Role wins G1 Belmont Derby in thrilling photo finish
Will Stroud and Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Title Role eked out a nose victory over West End Kid to land his first Grade 1 in Saturday’s $750,000 Belmont Derby, a nine-furlong Mellon turf route for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Simon Crisford, the Too Darn Hot colt doubled up on stakes scores after a last-out victory in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas in May at Cologne, and has now won four of his last five starts, including the Jumeirah Two Thousand Guineas in February at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
“He’s a super-tough horse and he really suits these turning tracks well,” said Ed Crisford, assistant to his father, Simon. “Meydan was the first time we saw that, he’s really game. He’s a German Guineas winner, he won the Belmont Derby, he won the Guineas in Dubai – he has a really good profile by Too Darn Hot, and it’s really fantastic for the owners. Will Stroud bought into the horse with his team and I’m really happy for them as it’s a big result to win the Belmont Derby.”
The win completed a banner day for Stroud, who also enjoyed a win with Kensington Road in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks earlier on the card through an interest in co-owner Medallion Racing.
Guided to victory by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Title Role was away in good order from post 9-of-10, and accompanied the eager Touch of Fire to his outside as the Tyler Gaffalione-piloted West End Kid pressed the issue to his inside. By the first turn, Touch of Fire, under Flavien Prat, took command from the sharp-starting Third Coast with Title Role just behind through the opening quarter-mile in 23.65 over the firm footing.
“They don’t have much time to the first bend and two horses either side of him took him on and he sort of got pushed forward,” Crisford said. “It wasn’t really the gameplan. We just wanted to take a sit a couple [lengths] back, but it is what it is – Johnny V, that’s why you put him on, he’s a great jockey. When they slowed it down on the backstretch, I was very happy with his position.”
Velazquez said the company in the first turn forced his hand.
“I didn’t want to be that close,” he said. “We talked about [how there was] not going to be any pace here. The horse outside of me will be the speed. Tyler took back, and I see Flavien and he is strangling the horse going to the lead. There is no speed, so I put [Title Role] right behind [Touch of Fire] on the first turn.”
Title Role settled in second just behind a headstrong Touch of Fire, and was under a snug hold as West End Kid loomed off his flank through the half in 49.20. Velazquez dropped his hands entering the turn and Title Role matched strides with the pacesetter with three-quarters elapsed in 1:13.15.
“Somebody else [West End Kid] got to my outside and my horse got a little keen, so I put him into the clear,” Velazquez said. “He relaxed pretty good there. And then from there I just wanted to wait, wait, wait, and try to save for the end. And he saved it.”
Touch of Fire reengaged and clung to a precarious lead at the head of the lane, but Title Role inched by in upper stretch while West End Kid followed his run and the favored Remember Mamba was rolling from mid-pack.
Title Role’s narrow lead was made even smaller as his rivals grew closer with every stride, and despite a strong late surge from West End Kid in the middle of the embattled trio, Title Role got his nose down just in time to hold onto victory in a final time of 1:47.55 with Remember Mamba another neck back in third.
The top three were followed home by Touch of Fire, Bottas, Third Coast, Pacific Avenue, Blackmail, Tiernanogue and Turf Star to complete the order of finish.
Velazquez admitted to some doubts about the photo finish.
“To tell you the truth, I thought I got it, but the jump after the wire, I was like, ‘did they [get] me, or was it after the wire?’ But I’ll tell you what, I have to give it to him because I asked him down the lead, he put the head down, and he was rolling,” Velazquez said. “He was rolling like he just came out running. Even if he got beat, he ran a really good race, but I’m glad that we got it.”
Crisford praised the heads-up ride from the veteran Velazquez.
“They were closing him down,” Crisford said. “Johnny rode a good race. He jumped well and found himself in a good position early, but they were going pretty quick. They slowed it down on the backstretch, but that last furlong he was just treading water a bit, but he did it well.”
Crisford added that the plan going forward is for Title Role to remain stateside, with one potential target being the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing at 1 3/16-miles on August 8. Stroud noted in the leadup to the Belmont Derby that Title Role will likely move to the barn of Brendan Walsh following this race.
“He’s going to stay in America. I’ll need to speak with the owners whether we keep him for another race or not. Hopefully, we can and then he’s going to stay in America. He’ll suit America. I don’t think [going longer in the Saratoga Derby] is too much of an issue for him. If he can ride more of a race in terms of not using so much petrol up early, I think he’ll get the trip.”
Gaffalione tipped his cap to Title Role and praised the brave effort from the Will Walden-trained West End Kid, last-out winner of the local Grade 3 Pennine Ridge on June 4.
“Everything went to plan. He ran a big race. Hats off to the winner,” Gaffalione said. “He is always a forwardly-placed horse. I put him where he wanted to be, just came up a nose short today. He kept running, he kept trying, he gave me a good run, just a nose short today."
Bred in Great Britain by Hascombe and Valiant Stud, Title Role is out of the Grade 3-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Valiant Girl and sold for $694,673 at last year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale. He banked $412,500 in victory while returning $16.68 on a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with an nine-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $150,000 Leo O’Brien steeplechase in Race 1, the Grade 3, $225,000 Kelso in Race 6 and the Listed $200,000 Harvey Pack in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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