Crossfirehurricane Lands Determined Patton Score

Undefeated Crossfirehurricane picked up 20 points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Feb. 28 with a half-length score in the Woodford Reserve Patton Stakes on the synthetic surface at Dundalk Racecourse.

Scott Heider's Kentucky-bred son of Kitten's Joy  has won three straight for trainer Joseph O'Brien and made his second start of the season after a Feb. 7 allowance going seven furlongs at the Irish track. The Heider homebred broke his maiden on debut at Limerick in June.

With Shane Crosse in the irons, Crossfirehurricane stalked fellow O'Brien trainee Choice of Mine early in the one-turn mile event, then was set down for the drive from the top of the stretch to the wire. The chestnut colt had to dig deep but kept on well under pressure, edging ahead in the final strides to win in 1:40.10.

Orchid Gardens finished third in the field of nine. Favored King of Athens dwelt slightly at the start and wound up fifth.

Bred by Glen Hill Farm in partnership with Heider, Crossfirehurricane is out of the stakes-winning Maria's Mon mare Louvakhova, a half sister to 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) and 2013 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) winner Flotilla.

Crossfirehurricane was not nominated to the Triple Crown series during the early nomination stage, which closed Jan. 25. The $6,000 late nomination period continues through March 30, but Crossfirehurricane's connections seem to be eyeing future European classics such as the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and the Irish Derby (G1). The colt has been entered early for those races, along with their French counterparts.

The Patton is the first race of the season in the seven-race European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby, which offers a single berth in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to the European-based contender with the highest point total. The March 4 Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park follows, and the April 2 Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford City Racecourse completes the series. The first four races in the series were for 2-year-olds last year. 

The Aidan O'Brien-trained New World Tapestry, a Triple Crown-nominated son of War Front  campaigned by Coolmore connections and Flaxman Stables, was scratched from the Patton and is entered in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes.