Irap

The two-time Kentucky Derby-winning owner-trainer team of J. Paul Reddam and Doug O’Neill punched their ticket back to Churchill Downs for the 143^rd running of the classic when maiden Irap scored a 31.30-1 shocker in the 2017 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, the Tiznow colt held off a late charge from dual Grade 1 winner Practical Joke to prevail by a three-quarters of a length and tally 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Irap had gone winless in seven career starts prior to the Blue Grass, and entered the $1 million race from a stay at Sunland Park in New Mexico, where he ran second in the Mine That Bird Derby and then a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby.

Irap endured a brutal trip in the Kentucky Derby when bumped at the start and steadied on the final turn. He faded to finish 18th in the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Irap rebounded in his next race, outfinishing Louisiana Derby winner Girvin in a thrilling stretch duel in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in June and streched his win streak to two with a resounding victory in the Indiana Derby in July. The colt followed those wins with a third-place effort behind West Coast and Gunnevera in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. In the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Irap battled bravely for second but came out of the race with a career-threatening injury.

Irap is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Silken Cat, who also is the dam (mother) of champion sprinter and sire Speightstown.