Qurbaan

Shadwell Stable’s Qurbaan, a son of Speightstown, began his racing career in France and won his first two races before shipping to Dubai for an unsuccessful run in the UAE 2000 Guineas. He returned to France and won three of his next five starts, including two minor stakes, before stepping up in class during summer and fall 2017, placing third in a Group 3 stakes in France and then racing twice in stakes races in Turkey.

Qurbaan did not race again until he appeared on Saratoga’s closing 2018 racecard in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Qurbaan rallied from off the pace to post a game nose win over Forge in his North American debut.

Following his Bernard Baruch score, Qurbaan kept good form while competing in graded stakes on turf over the next year, but did not win through seven starts. He finished second twice and third four times in that span, his runner-up finishes coming in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December 2018 and in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, May 4, 2019.

Returning in the 2019 Bernard Baruch Handicap on Saratoga’s closing Sept. 2 card, Qurbaan saved ground under Joel Rosario and shot through an opening along the inside at the top of the stretch, drawing away to a visually impressive repeat win.