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  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Bustin Stones sire of Bustinattheseams 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd BEL). Owner, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Eaton & Thorne, Inc....

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Mafaaz takes Derby Challenge

Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:04 PM

MAFAAZ

Racing Post photo

by Jeff Lowe

After sweeping two Breeders’ Cup races last fall, English trainer John Gosden now has a shot at United States racing’s signature event with Mafaaz, who delivered in the $112,304 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes on Wednesday at Kempton Park.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Medicean colt held off Spring of Fame by a neck to earn the only automatic berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Churchill Downs sponsored the Derby Challenge on the Kempton synthetic Polytrack surface for the first time this year as part of an effort to boost European interest in the Kentucky Derby. The rest of the Derby field will be determined by graded stakes earnings. Sheikh Hamdan also stands to receive a $100,000 bonus if Mafaaz runs in the Kentucky Derby.

Mafaaz was among the early nominees to the United States Triple Crown. Racing with blinkers for the first time, he tracked just behind pacesetter Sohcahtoa under jockey Richard Hills and drove to the front inside the final furlong in the clockwise race. He held off Spring of Fame at the wire and completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.17.

"Obviously, we'll have to discuss it, but Sheikh Hamdan is a great supporter of American racing and he now has the opportunity to go to Kentucky,” said Gosden, who finished 12th in the 1986 Kentucky Derby with Zabaleta. “He's a nice, solid horse who has been working well and the blinkers have helped. He's always lacked a bit of focus. He's a tough cookie and is arrogant. He's not a pussycat and has got the right attitude.”

Mafaaz scored at Kempton in his debut on September 10 and then finished fifth to stablemate Donativum (GB) in the Tatersalls Timeform Millions on October 4 at Newmarket in his only other start. Donativum went on to win the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Gosden’s other Breeders’ Cup starter, Raven’s Pass, prevailed in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).  

Gosden confirmed that he would consider sending Mafaaz to Keeneland Race Course for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 11.

The combined handle in American win, place, and exacta pools was $40,074.

Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer

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