Qurbaan Aces U.S. Debut in Bernard Baruch

Shadwell Stable's Qurbaan prevailed in a blanket finish Sept. 3 to win the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course in his stateside debut.

The first U.S. start for the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Speightstown  proved to be a fruitful one for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, as Qurbaan rallied from near the back of the pack to get a nose in front of Juddmonte Farm homebreds Forge and Projected at the wire.

Voodoo Song, trying for his sixth consecutive win over two summers at Saratoga, took up his customary position at the head of the field, drawing clear by as many as four lengths up the backstretch through fractions of :24.13 and :47.89, with Projected leading the rest of the group. Voodoo Song was headed by Forge at the top of the stretch, while Qurbaan rallied from fourth in the field of five with a four-wide move down the lane.

Qurbaan, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., joined Projected and Forge as Voodoo Song faded along the rail, and the trio battled it out to the finish line. 

"It seemed like the (connections) were excited about him," Ortiz said. "I can see why they like the horse, he showed he can win a (graded stakes) in this country. I'm excited. Hopefully we can build on this."

The winning time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:40 flat. Off at odds of 13-1, the winner returned $28.

The victory was the sixth overall for Qurbaan in 14 starts, with his first five coming in France.

"We've had him a couple of months," McLaughlin said. "He came over and had some time off, but ever since he's been with us, he's done everything right. He trains very well.

"We were trying to run him in an allowance race that didn't go for a while. We didn't have many options but to go into the stakes. He's a stakes horse, obviously."

McLaughlin said the Oct. 6 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland, a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), could be next for Qurbaan. Bred by Justin Carthy out of the Zieten mare Flip Flop, the chestnut horse was purchased by Shadwell for $300,000 from Hunter Valley Farm's consignment to the 2013 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The Bernard Baruch win improved his earnings to $313,108.



"He's run at various distances and obviously with Shadwell being the sponsor of the Shadwell Mile, we may have to try that next now that we have a horse that can go there. Hopefully, (he has) a bright future," McLaughlin said.

Video: Bernard Baruch H. (G2T)