Dullahan carved brisk fractions at Keeneland’s synthetic surface ahead of the Blue Grass Stakes
The only victory Dale Romans trained 3-year-old colt, Dullahan, has landed in his career was at Keeneland’s synthetic surface in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity where at about 1 1/16 miles under jockey K. Desormeaux, Dullahan powered home to down Majestic
City in second and Optimizer in third, with the winning time of 1 minute and 43.12 seconds.
On 8 April, 2012, Dullahan reconfirmed his affinity to the track under Tammy Fox for trainer Dale Romans when the pair over the Keeneland’s synthetic surface worked five furlongs in a time of 57.40 seconds ahead of a start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Toyota
Blue Grass Stakes at about 1 1/8 miles over Keeneland’s synthetic surface.
If the Kentucky bred son of Even the Score, out of mare Mining My Own by Smart Strike, Dullahan goes on to win the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, then he will join Round Table, as the only horse to have won the Breeders’ Futurity and the Blue Grass Stakes.
Round Table won both races in the 1956-57 season. Dullahan, a half brother to the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, Mine that Bird, carved brisk fractions of 11.80 seconds, 22.80 seconds, 34.40 seconds, 45.40 seconds, and galloped out the rest in 1 minute and
10.40 seconds.
Donegal Racing owned Dullahan, immediately after the work returned to Churchill Downs and did not stay at Keeneland, where the Blue Grass Stakes will be held. He will be shipped back to Keeneland from Churchill Downs on the day of the Blue Grass Stakes,
but until then he will stay at Churchill Downs and train.
Dullahan was tested at dirt for his first two career starts, but failed to break his maiden at both occasions, and a switch was called on turf, but even then the colt failed to break his maiden.
Staying on turf, Dullahan was entered in the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes, but he finished in third to winner State of Play. Eventually he bagged one over at poly track to win the Breeders’ Futurity.
Dullahan’s last race as a juvenile was in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and there he finished fourth to winner, Hansen, whom he will face in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
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