Irap

IRAP (c, Tiznow—Silken Cat, by Storm Cat)

O-Reddam Racing LLC. B-Aaron & Marie Jones (KY). T-Doug F. O'Neill. Sales History: $140,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-1-3-1, $772,600.

Last Start: 1st, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8

Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs

KY Derby Points: 113

Irap ran the race of his life to break his maiden against the deepest (on paper at least) Derby prep field. Following that 31-1 upset in the Blue Grass S., he'll now be required to top that effort by coming up with yet another career-best performance if he is to finish anywhere within sniffing distance of the division's best in the 20-horse Derby. That's an improbable task, but not impossible. In Irap's favor is his last-out Beyer fig of 93, which puts him in the same ballpark as winning efforts by Classic Empire (94) and Girvin (91), and ahead of Gormley (88). Without fanfare, Irap has built a respectable foundation of seven consecutive route races going back to last fall (including two tries at nine furlongs), and his connections certainly have been-there-done-that recency going for them, as the owner/trainer/jockey combo of Reddam/O'Neill/Gutierrez scored in last year's Derby with Nyquist (Uncle Mo).

VIDEO PPS