Dual Guineas winner Title Role headlines G1 Belmont Derby

Dual Guineas winner Title Role headlines G1 Belmont Derby

By Michael Adolphson

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Coolmore principals Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor will seek their third success in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby when they send forth the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Title Role in the 1 1/8-mile Mellon Turf test, at Saratoga Race Course.

Exiting a smart victory in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas on May 25, the son of Too Darn Hot out of Grade 3-winning Graham Motion trainee Valiant Girl looks to add to Coolmore’s honor roll that includes 2016 winner Deauville, owned in partnership with Mrs. Fitriani Hay, as well as 2021’s Bolshoi Ballet, owned with Georg von Opel’s Westerberg.

Earlier this season and previous to his success in Cologne, the four-time winner landed Meydan’s Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas [Dubai’s top race for turf 3-year-olds] – defeating Godolphin’s highly regarded subsequent Group 1 St James’s Palace-placed Talk of New York – and Jumeirah Guineas Trial over the same one-mile distance. His two losses this season, a 2 1/2-length fifth in Newbury’s Group 3 Greenham and half-length third in Meydan’s Jumeirah Stakes, were both over a lesser trip [seven furlongs], so connections naturally look forward to a move in the other direction.

“He’s always shown to be quite a decent horse and then when he came to Dubai, he did super-well,” Ed Crisford said. “He won those races and improved throughout the whole winter. When we brought him back to the UK, he shipped over and won the German guineas well, a race that was always the plan, as Aidan [O’Brien] had enough horses going toward the English and Irish Guineas [for the same owners].

“He’s just a very straightforward individual and likes turning tracks, especially over quick-ish ground, as he’s the sort of horse who’s quite nimble and well-balanced,” Crisford continued. “We didn’t really feel like there was anything for him at [Royal] Ascot, so we made the Belmont Derby the aim. He breaks well, you can put him in any position and I think the extra furlong will suit him very well. Ryan [Moore] thought when he won the Jumeirah Guineas on him that he would definitely be staying in time. He should have a chance to get a good breather around the bend, kick off the bend turning into the straight and then see if he’s good enough.”

Purchased for $694,673 at Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale in April 2025, he immediately hinted at what was to come one month later with a nose runner-up effort to Humidity in a Newbury six-furlong maiden – a race that also included Words of Truth and Morris Dancer, subsequent Group 2 and Listed stakes winners, respectively. Nearly five months later, he resurfaced with a one-sided win in a seven-furlong Kempton maiden in October before heading to Dubai to kick off his campaign in January. The rest has been a steady and satisfying ascent that now leads him stateside. Currently with an official rating of 109, Title Role, who will leave post 9, will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, winner of this race in 2024 with Trikari, and when it was known as the Jamaica Handicap with Finality [2002], Vergennes [1998] and Pennine Ridge [1994].

“We got him out of the breeze-ups and [bloodstock agent] Jamie McCalmont bought him for us,” Crisford explained. “He immediately ran very well when we first got him before he picked up a little niggle that necessitated missing the summer races, so we focused him on Dubai. Sometimes that forced break does the horse a world of good and he’s done extremely well since. We always liked the horse and he suits the American style of racing. I expect it to be a decent enough race and I know Charlie is bringing Pacific Avenue in there, who ran well in the Irish guineas. From what we’ve done and if he runs his best form, he’ll be in the mix.”

Godolphin’s aforementioned Pacific Avenue, also rated 109, renews his rivalry with Title Role, having split him and Talk of New York when running second in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas in late February. Since then, the Charlie Appleby pupil has upped his game nicely, finishing second to well-regarded and undefeated Protection Act in a Goodwood conditions [allowance] before running a career-best when a four-length third to Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf champ Gstaad in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas on May 23. The homebred son of star sire Dubawi and Group 1 Cheveley Park winner Lumiere was assigned a 111 Racing Post Rating [RPR], which was three points higher than Title Role’s 108 in Germany.

Despite ample North American success in top-level races [31 Grade 1 wins; seven in New York], the Belmont Derby has proven elusive for Appleby. Godolphin’s premier conditioner has lost twice with favorites when second with Nations Pride [2022] and third with Legend of Time [2024], and was fifth with the betting public’s third choice, Silver Knott [2023]. They will have a chance to make amends when William Buick rides from post 6.

“All is going well with Pacific Avenue,” Appleby said. “His last bit of work was nice and he’s very straightforward. He’s going the right way and is strengthening. He looks [physically] stronger, especially. His running style could suit out there.”

Chief among the home team is Mo Speed Racing’s Will Walden-trained West End Kid, who boasts a 3-for-4 record, capped last out with a victory in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge over 1 1/16 miles of Saratoga’s inner turf. Sent to post as the even-money favorite, he continued his ascent with aplomb, winning by 1 1/4-lengths. Tyler Gaffalione reunites from post 8.

“This is the logical spot in the progression of his races. He hasn’t done anything wrong since his first start. We’re excited to see him out there,” Walden said. “He’s a good feeling 3-year-old colt. I feel like, it is not a certainty, but it is possible that holding him down and waiting for another race in six weeks would do him more harm than good. When they tell you they are ready to run, I’ve learned that you are best to just run them.

“He’s fit. He’s ready to go,” Walden added. “I think he’ll be forwardly-placed, that’s where I’d assume he’ll be.”

Gary Barber’s Blackmail, winner of the Woodhaven on April 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack, returned last out to run an admirable runner-up to West End Kid in the Pennine Ridge. Improving with each of his four starts this year, the gelded son of Not This Time steps up again for a Mark Casse barn that has done eye-catchingly well in New York graded stakes over this year. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, winner with Catholic Boy in 2018, rides from post 1.

“He’s doing great,” the dual Hall of Fame trainer said. “He seems to be getting better and better and he had a really strong gallop-out in the Pennine Ridge. Javier thinks that he is improving, too, and that the more ground the better with him. I think the farther the better, as well.”

Dahman’s Miguel Clement-trained Grade 2 Pilgrim-winner Bottas finished a late-running third in the Pennine Ridge, his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Halloween and just his fourth lifetime run. A $300,000 purchase at OBS April last year as a juvenile, the son of Vekoma had a somewhat hindered journey on reappearance and, like namesake F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, will hope a traffic-free trip aligns with all his top gears. Manny Franco, winner last year with Test Score, rides from post 2.

“He’s trained well,” said Clement, whose late father Christophe Clement won the 2020 renewal with Gufo. “He might have needed [his last race]. I thought he ran well. He looked poised at one point at the top of the stretch and made a good run, flattened out a little bit and got tired in the late stages. I think he’ll improve from the race, and we’ll definitely have to improve because this race will be much tougher than the Pennine Ridge.

“[The step up in distance] is not ideal in my opinion, but as long as the turf is firm, I think he can handle it,” Clement added. “He might be more of a miler type, but I’m not entirely sure, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and try. Everything is positive. He’s carrying a few extra pounds and hopefully now it’s onward and upward.”

C R K Stable’s Remember Mamba, who was second to Stark Contrast last out in the Grade 1 American Turf, brings the in-form yard of history-making conditioner Cherie DeVaux back to Saratoga Grade 1 company. Winner of the Grade 3 Transylvania in April, the 3-for-4 son of Kitten’s Joy will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, winner with Oscar Performance [2017] and Far Bridge [2023], from post 3.

Juddmonte’s Touch of Fire steps up in class for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox following a three-length victory over this distance in Churchill Downs’s Listed Audubon, a race in which the son of Constitution was heavily favored. Also 3-for-4 thus far in his career, the blueblood is out of French classic-placed Mexican Gold, a winner over the Saratoga turf in her American debut in 2016 for the same owner. Flavien Prat rides from post 10.

Mulberry Racing’s Brendan Walsh-conditioned Tiernanogue chased Touch of Fire home last out in the Audubon, closing well from last-of-8. The son of Quality Road took to the turf well last time, an effort that followed a 10-furlong dirt maiden victory in late April at Churchill Downs. Ricardo Santana, Jr., rides from post 7.

“I think the key with him is the distance,” Walsh said. “He obviously was running on dirt over and over and was running well, so we had no reason to try the turf. Then he broke his maiden going a mile and a quarter on the dirt at Churchill and there wasn’t a whole lot for him, so when we saw the Audubon going a mile and an eighth on grass, we thought why not give him a go on the turf and he loved it.

“He even got decked going into the first turn and still came back from it and made up a ton of ground to finish second to a winner [Touch of Fire] who I think is one of the best colts in the country,” Walsh continued. “If he takes a step forward again next weekend, I think he can at least get a piece of it.”

Another entering off a smart stakes victory is Calumet homebred Turf Star, a blue-blooded son of Caravaggio and dual Group 3-winning Galileo mare Starstruck who won the James W. Murphy on May 16 at Laurel Park on the Preakness undercard. Trainer Graham Motion will seek his third consecutive victory in the Belmont Derby, following Trikari and Test Score, with this Grade 2-placed colt who finished sixth in the aforementioned Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Dylan Davis rides from post 5.

“He’s doing super,” Motion said. “My intention was to run him in Delaware in the Kent, but it got rained off. He got sent back and we couldn’t breeze him [Sunday] morning, so he’ll breeze Monday.

“We ran him in the Breeders’ Cup, so we obviously liked him a lot,” Motion continued. “Unlike the other horses I’ve won it with, I don’t know how far this horse wants to go. I’m not sold that he wants to go up to a mile and a quarter, but he also hasn’t shown that he doesn’t want to do it. He’s a cool horse with a great attitude and a great family and just a nice horse to be around. I’ve been really fortunate that I had two super colts the last two years. They were exceptional, but this guy is coming along and while he hasn’t accomplished as much as they have at this point, he’s definitely an improving horse.”

Rounding out the Belmont Derby field is Glen Hill Farm’s Third Coast, a son of Uncle Mo and dual Grade 1-winning Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Marketing Mix. Trained by Tom Proctor, who conditioned his dam to earn more than $2 million, the lightly raced gelding won the Jersey Derby on May 30 at Monmouth Park to improve his record to 2-for-3, following a debut victory in February at Tampa Bay Downs and a fifth in Keeneland allowance company in April. Jose Lezcano, winner with Henley’s Joy [2019] and Mr. Speaker [2014], rides from post 4.

“He does things very easily,” said Craig Bernick, principal of Glen Hill Farm. “He’s not the most impressive horse to look at, but when he moves and trains, he turns into a really imposing horse. His maiden win was really good and then I thought the set up in the race at Keeneland went against him a little bit. Last out, in New Jersey, he won very easily. He wasn’t stopping at the wire and had been wide with no cover the whole way. It’s obviously a huge step up in class, but the way he’s won his races has given us the confidence to give him a try. He’ll either be that level or there’s plenty of other races to lower your target after that. He’s stabled at and been training well at Saratoga and we thought this race made a ton of sense. The family gets better with distance and age and I think he will relish the step up.”

The Belmont Derby is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s Independence Day program, which is co-headlined by the Grade 1 $600,000 Belmont Oaks in Race 7. The 11-race card also features the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life in Race 8 and the Grade 3, $225,000 Sanford in Race 5. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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