Denis of Cork rolls late in Southwest

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) moved into striking range on the far turn and cruised home a facile 2 1/4-length winner of the $250,000 Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Presidents' Day. The David Carroll trainee completed the one-mile test in 1:37 4/5 over the fast track under Robby Albarado to capture his stakes debut. The unbeaten colt was sent off as the 9-2 third choice and paid $11.60, $5.40 and $3.60.

Sacred Journey (Unbridled's Song) sped from the opening bell and opened up by as many as 5 1/2 lengths while posting demanding splits of :22 3/5 and :45 1/5 for the opening half-mile. All the while, Denis of Cork was rating kindly in midpack. The pacesetter began to shorten his stride nearing the top of the lane and was first confronted by Sierra Sunset (Bertrando), who grabbed the lead for a jump or two, before being dusted by Denis of Cork inside the final sixteenth.

Sierra Sunset was 3 1/4 lengths clear in second, paying $9.60 and $6.40 while completing the $70.90 exacta ($1) at 11-1. Sacred Journey and the closing Liberty Bull (Holy Bull) finished in a dead-heat for third. Sacred Journey paid $4.20 and finished off the $391.60 trifecta  ($1) (8-6-4) at 9-1. Liberty Bull gave back $3.80 at 16-1, and the $1 trifecta with him in the show slot paid $401.30 (8-6-3). The 8-6-4-3 superfecta returned $3,519.90 ($1), and the 8-6-3-4 finish was worth $4,027.80 ($1).

He's Eze (Silver Deputy) was another half-length back and trailed by Riley Tucker (Harlan's Holiday), Isabull (Holy Bull), Gangbuster (Langfuhr), 2-1 favorite Turf War (Dixie Union), Royal Hudson (Monarchos) and Silver Edition (Silver Deputy).

Denis of Cork began his career by topping a solid group of maiden rivals at Churchill Downs in November, and reappeared with a hard-fought allowance win at Fair Grounds last month. Now unblemished from three lifetime tries, the bay colt boasts $198,552 in earnings.

Bred in Florida by Westbury Stables, Denis of Cork was purchased for $250,000 at the Barretts March sale as a two-year-old in training. He was produced by Unbridled Girl (Unbridled) and has an unnamed two-year-old half-sister by Touch Gold. He hails from the same family as 1995 Vanity Invitational H. (G1) queen Private Persuasion (Pirate's Bounty).