Carlton House was impressive today in winning the Dante ... he's your Derby favorite.
Coolmore and Ballydoyle colt Cape Blanco, trained by Aiden O'Brien, won the 2010 Dante Stakes today at York. Beating some very good potential 3yr.old contenders in Workforce, who had won his maiden impressively, and was the race favorite. Coordinated Cut. Recent Timeform 3yr.old Trophy winner, and Godolphin Stables Chebal. Who ran a rather disappointing race. Johnny Murtagh had Cape Blanco in running at an excellent pace, traveling well throughout, and then calling on Cape Blanco to open up in the final furlong to draw away by a 3 to 4 length win at York. The win now run's Cape Blanco's lifetime record to 4 for 4. With the Dante Stakes being his 3yr.old debut. But Cape Blanco had won an E.B.F. maiden, the Tyros Stakes, and the E.B.F. Futurity Stakes as a 2yr.old to close out his 2009 campaign. All signs are that he'll continue on to Epsom for the Investec or Epsom Derby in June, along with stablemate, and very highly regarded St Nicholas Abbey. Who was 3 for 3 in 2009 as a 2yr.old, but recently lost his first race as a 3yr.old in the 2010 2000 Guineas from Newmarket.