Coach Joseph O’Brien Will Send His First Warmer Racecourse Saratoga met when Peter Brant’s Alexis Zorba looking for a third place in the first race on July 22 — a special 5 1/2 long-haired minors on the Mellon turf.
Alexis Zorba finished second in his two previous attempts in Ireland, both times finishing behind the eventual winner in the group for Joseph’s father, coach Aidan O’Brien. He was beaten half length when he debuted on April 8 on the all-weather surface at Dundalk in a race won by Black beard who went on to shoot Gain Marble Hill (G3) at The Curragh and Darley Prix Robert Papin (G2) at Chantilly.
In the second start, Alexis Zorba finished after three stages Little Bear who returned to defeat a 24-horse field in Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before capturing Jebel Ali Racecourse and Anglesey Stakes (G3) on 16 July at The Curragh.
“He’s in good shape,” O’Brien said. “He’s had two runs in Ireland and is clearly in good form. The track is a question mark for him. It’s great to have some horses for Peter. We hope that this will be the way to go. a beautiful pony.”
Alexis Zorba, bred in the UK by Plantation Stud, is Australian bred Zoustar and get out Excel and Excel mare Rue Cambon—A half-sister with a millionaire who won a high school prize Gorella. She was purchased by Brant Birch Farm and bloodline agent Demi O’Byrne for $442,516 at the October 2021 Tattersalls sale.
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will receive a ride on board Alexis Zorba from post 4 as a 9-5 light favorite.
O’Brien will try to double his first minors field win this week on dispatch regenerative force at the special 1/16-mile maiden weight in Saturday’s opening match.
The son of Air Force Blue Reckoning Force out of mare Jazil Alasema for whom the third dam Trolley Song produced the highly influential Song of the Prince.
In its lone attempt, Reckoning Force finished third, beating 1 3/4 length in a six-feather maiden event on June 4 at Listowel.
“He’s been included in his only race and we hope he can run well,” said O’Brien.
Velazquez will ride the Reckoning Force from lesson 10.
O’Brien, who has shopped in Saratoga for the first time, has had success in the past with shipping to Spa, including last year when saddled Rest state won the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) en route to group 1 victories in Australia, France and the UK.
“Obviously, there’s some big prize money to be won there, and I have a number of owners who are interested and like to compete there,” O’Brien said.
