Ivar (BRZ)

Ivar, a Brazilian-bred son of Agnes Gold, began his racing career in Argentina where he won all three of his starts, including two Group 1 stakes. He moved to the U.S. in 2020 and finished fifth in his debut, but then won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs in June and then finished third in a listed stakes at Kentucky Downs in September.

Trainer Paulo Lobo then ambitiously placed Ivar in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 3, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He powered clear in the stretch to post an upset victory by a length over Raging Bull and punch his ticket to the Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Ivar finished fourth in the 2020 Mile, then went to the sidelines until May 1, 2021. That day, he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Following that race, he went on another break, and did not return until October. He was fourth in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile in his final Breeders' Cup prep. At the Breeders' Cup four weeks later at Del Mar, he closed to finish third.

Ivar returned from eighth months off July 9, 2022, at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where he won the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes by a length as the 6-5 favorite. He followed with a distant runner-up finish to Modern Games in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile and then closed gamely to outfinish Order of Australia for second behind Annapolis in the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Oct. 8 at Keeneland.