Europe
Power Blue delivers Space Blues's first stakes win in Phoenix upset
By Tom Frary
Darley stallion Space Blues had made a strong start to his stud career in 2025 and his son Power Blue took it to the next level on Saturday when causing a surprise in The Curragh's feature G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Handed an easier task by the withdrawal of Ballydoyle's Coventry winner Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), Amo Racing's Marble Hill runner-up was also able to benefit from the drop off of his comprehensive Railway conqueror True Love (No Nay Never) to land the spoils by one and a half lengths.
“It's unbelievable–he has got bigger and stronger and has been improving all year,” commented trainer Adrian Murray, who had earlier saddled the owner's Bucanero Fuerte to win the Phoenix Sprint. “He never lets us down and, a furlong out, I was thinking the filly wasn't going to get to him as he was still in his comfort zone.”
“He (Power Blue) never lets us down and, a furlong out, I was thinking the filly wasn't going to get to him as he was still in his comfort zone.” - Adrian Murray
Power Blue, a bargain £44,000 ($90,640) Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale purchase for the LNA Racing Syndicate, had won the opening juvenile maiden of the season here in impressive fashion on soft ground in March prior to running third to Lady Iman (Starman) and True Love when the latter was making her debut in the Listed First Flier Stakes in early May.
Runner-up to Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) in the G3 Marble Hill later that month, he was fifth in the Coventry making his debut in the Amo silks before being beaten nearly six lengths by True Love in the Railway last month.
While his determined display from the front here could be classed as a fluke, with the runner-up deemed as having run below-par in a far from vintage renewal of the European calendar's first two-year-old Group 1 race, the winning time was the race's fastest since it returned here from Leopardstown in 2002.
Jockey David Egan was keen to champion his mount.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve,” the rider said. “We went hard all the way with that tailwind. I'm sure we went fast fractions and we really ran them into the ground. It was a real tough performance. I was glad when I jumped out of the gates and the fancied one was on my left. I could have stayed straight, but I just angled over so he would have something to fight against because he loves a battle. That was key.
“I'm sure we went fast fractions and we really ran them into the ground. It was a real tough performance.” - David Egan
“It's fantastic, a mega day. It's my first Group 1 for Amo, which is huge for myself and the team. So much hard work goes into it and Kia puts a lot into the game. He obviously has his critics, but to give him a day like this is a proud day.
“I knew the second half of the season was going to be better than the first half for us and the second year better than the first and the third year better than the second. It's all about giving it time.”
Power Blue, one of a trio of Stakes performers for his first-crop sire alongside Do Or Do Not and Polly Shelby, is the first foal out of the G3 Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani-placed Visions (Worthadd). She is a daughter of the G3 Premio Tudini winner Charming Woman (Invincible Spirit), while the family also features the GIII Bewitch Stakes winner and Preis der Diana-placed Lilac Queen (Law Society). Visions's yearling colt by Starman named New Again is catalogued in the upcoming Tattersalls October Book 1.
United States
El Cordobes leads home Frankel quinella in Sword Dancer
By Alan Carasso
El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the lesser-preferred, less-accomplished and less-exposed part of an uncoupled entry for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, took his cue from Flavien Prat in upper stretch, split rivals on two occasions inside the final furlong and a half and dove across the line first to take out Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga. With the victory, El Cordobes earns an automatic berth into the field for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar later this fall.
El Cordobes traveled strongly into the final half-mile, but was taken a hold of by Prat on the turn and was shuffled back to near-enough last just as the real running was about to begin. Taking a gap between Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a weakening Far Bridge (English Channel) in upper stretch, El Cordobes knifed through another between Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Rebel Red with the race in the balance and was home narrowly best.
“The way he ran there, you'd almost say he'll keep on improving,” said Chris Connett, assistant to Appleby. “Flavien (Prat) said he hit the line really well. He's the kind of horse we knew he'd hit the line hard, and it was just a matter of him getting out in the clear and Flavien was able to do that.”
“The way he (El Cordobes) ran there, you'd almost say he'll keep on improving.” - Chris Connett
El Cordobes is the 38th worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winner for his sire and his fifth on American shores. Frankel's late son Measured Time (GB) was beaten into second by Far Bridge 12 months ago. He is the eighth Group 1 or Grade I winner produced by a daughter of the outstanding Sea The Stars (Ire), who was coincidentally the sire of breeder Bjorn Nielsen's spectacular seven-times Group 1-winning stayer Stradivarius (Ire).
Offered by Sir Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber's Watership Down Stud during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2022, El Cordobes was knocked down to Richard Knight Bloodstock on behalf of Godolphin for 2 million gns ($4.33 million), the third-highest price of the auction.
Another Watership Down-consigned son of Frankel out of Group 3 winner So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) topped the sale on Godolphin's bid of 2.8 million gns ($6.06 million).
El Cordobes is one of three winners from three to race out of Bold Lass (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a winning daughter of stakes winner and multiple Group 1-placed My Branch (Distant Relative {Ire}), the dam of G1 Sprint Cup victress Tante Rose (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), stakes winner and stakes-placed Bay Tree (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), and also the dam of multiple Group 1-winning sire Make Believe (GB) and his dual Grade I-winning half-sister Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
The Sword Dancer Stakes will be renamed next year in honour of the late trainer Christophe Clement, who won the event five times, including last year with Far Bridge.
Fort Washington rolls late to earn GI Arlington Million score at Colonial
By Stefanie Grimm
Is it too soon to call 2025 the year of Junior Alvarado? The Venezuelan jockey continued to ride a tsunami of success right into southeast Virginia Saturday, piloting Fort Washington (War Front) to victory in the GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.
Stablemate Integration (Quality Road), briefly assumed command in the home straight, but got run down in a cavalry charge to the line with Fort Washington coming widest of the contenders to steal the win by a half-length. Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) scooted up the rail to pick up second with the race favourite relegated to third and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) another half-length back in fourth.
For Alvarado, add Colonial's biggest race to a season that has already seen win photos taken for the GI Kentucky Derby, the GI Belmont Stakes and the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational. The partnership between the 39-year-old jockey and the 6-year-old Fort Washington had seen a sharp turn of form that owner Joseph Anzalone attributes nearly entirely to Alvarado.
“He's the man,” Anzalone said, pointing across the winner circle to his jockey. “Ever since he got on this horse, he's done nothing wrong. He had a tough trip in the Wise Dan. And obviously (jockey) Kendrick (Carmouche) did a good job in the beginning with him. That's how I got my first Graded win (the 2024 GIII Monmouth Stakes).
“He's (Alvarado) the man. Ever since he got on this horse (Fort Washington), he's done nothing wrong.” - Joseph Anzalone
“But when (Junior) took over, it's just been a whole other story. He's tremendous.”
Anzalone's Magic Cap Stables earned their first Grade I win Saturday.
“I can't even say how I feel,” said Anzalone. “First Grade I win for me, it's just been an outstanding adventure.”
The Boca Raton-based stable began racing in 2016 and admirably made it as far as the Breeders' Cup in their first year (finishing fifth with Jamyson 'n Ginger {Bernardini} in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies}.
“I was only on fillies for the first five years,” Anzalone said. “I have a nice breeding program. And now I've got a few colts, and this one just fell into my lap. I'm going to watch (the race) 100 times tonight. My wife yells at me because I watch the replays over and over.”
“Now I've got a few colts, and this one just fell into my lap. I'm going to watch (the race) 100 times tonight.” - Joseph Anzalone
Fort Washington, who came into the Magic Cap Stable fold full-time just before his victory in the Monmouth Stakes, has just come into his own of late, even at 6-years-old.
“He's six, but he only found himself at maybe five and a half,” Anzalone said. “They're talking about Kentucky Downs, but they might also give him a little bit of a break now that he's won this. We were just going to skip this spot and go straight to the (National Thoroughbred League Tight Spot) Overnight but he was working so well, we didn't have a choice! I don't know if he likes the mile so much. (The Breeders' Cup) is the furthest thing from my mind. I was just trying to get the win here today.”
For Alvarado, the success is a reflection of the work he's put in.
“It's been one of those years,” Alvarado said. “As a kid, you always dream to have (a year like this) but it's definitely very hard, a lot of work. This year has been that kind of year for me. I've been very blessed by God to be able to be in this spot. A lot of owners and trainers have supported me and gave me an opportunity to ride nice horses.”
“As a kid, you always dream to have (a year like this) but it's definitely very hard, a lot of work.” - Junior Alvarado
Of the stretch run, he added: “I knew he was going to give me the kick that he always does. This spot was perfect for him today. He's the kind of horse that runs the way I like to ride.”
The 27th Grade I winner for War Front, Fort Washington is a son of French Group-placed Azaelia (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) who has produced two other winners including his full-sister Hay Stack. Her 2-year-old Munnings colt named Olivetti ran fourth at Saratoga in maiden special weight company on August 7 for Peter Brant and Chad Brown. She produced a War Front filly last year and a filly by Triple Crown champion Justify this season before visiting both Annapolis and Raging Bull (Fr) for 2026.
