Team Valor Hopes The Black Album Becomes a Hit

Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin is known for scoping the globe far and wide in search of talented Thoroughbreds, and often showcasing their skill in the United States.

Irwin's latest international find is The Black Album, and Irwin believes the 2-year-old son of Wootton Bassett has what it takes to be a serious horse in the U.S. He will get his chance to prove that assessment in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

When it comes to finding a good European prospect for American racing, Irwin believes the key ingredient to the right horse is its style. 

"I learned long ago that in Europe class counts, but in America style counts," Irwin said. "I'm in the market literally every day for a 2-year-old colt and filly in Europe, especially in France. The reason that he was attractive was because he has the right style. When he won the group 3 over in France, he just laid right behind the pacesetter and by the time they started finally reeling him in, it was too late. He's tough and he's game.

"Basically with the way this market is right now, I hardly buy anything in North America. If I buy 15 horses, two or three are here and the rest are over there. A lot of the (foreign) sales that I go to, I'm usually the only American there. As far as the ones in Europe, I'll buy a horse that has run in a small locale if I think it has the ability."

Irwin privately purchased The Black Album in partnership after the colt's victory in Longchamp's Prix la Rochette (G3), which he won by a nose at odds of 16-1. In that outing, he defeated fourth-place finisher Lily's Candle, who went on to win the Oct. 7 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at Longchamp. He has won three of his five career starts, all of which were run in his native France. Prior to scoring a group victory in his most recent start, he was fourth beaten 51/4 lengths in the Aug. 12 Prix François Boutin at Deauville. 

"He had a tooth problem and was lugging out," Irwin said. "We figured out that it was his mouth after the race, so they got a dentist to look at it. Other than that race, he's won three in a row."

The Black Album's sire was undefeated as a 2-year-old, and took the 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere (G1).

"I tried to buy a horse of his that was just called Wootton, but Sheikh Mohammed ended up getting it," Irwin said. "In his first crop, he had a champion 3-year-old (Almanzor) who won a lot of big races that year. His next couple of crops were real small and now the one this colt is in, is his first big crop. He's a very popular horse. His offspring are American looking and well-balanced horses.

"When I buy horses, if they have a pedigree that's nice but I'm not buying the pedigree I'm buying the individual. I want as much athleticism as much as I can get out of a horse. He's got the tools to be a good one."

Irwin will be targeting his second victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which he won with Pluck in 2010 at Churchill. 

"I can't really compare the two because (Pluck) was a local horse who didn't have to train overseas," Irwin said. "I would say if you wanted to compare this horses to anyone it would be Lucky Chappy. He came over here and he ran in the Bourbon at Keeneland and ran third. He ran back in the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf in 2011) and finished fourth. I think (The Black Album) is better than him because he won a group race in another country.

"Of all the horses that have run for me, (Pluck's) win in the Breeders' Cup might have been the most impressive," Irwin said. "He missed the break and then he wasn't far behind a horse that flipped onto the first turn. The whole thing was crazy."

The Black Album is trained by French-based Jane Soubagne, but will make America his new home following the Juvenile Turf and will be transferred to the barn of fledgling horseman Rodolphe Brissett. 

"I chose him because he is French and so is the horse," Irwin said. "I wanted to make sure it was a good transition from the Breeders' Cup. So I gave it to him and put him in touch with the trainer over in France. I think he's going to be a very big trainer."

Mickael Barzalona, who guided The Black Album in all three of his career victories, retains the mount in the Juvenile Turf. He will seek his second triumph in a Breeders' Cup race after piloting Talismanic in last year's edition of the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).