Yard Line Needs Luck of Irish in Twilight Derby

Trainer Eoin Harty and jockey Kieren Fallon, both natives of Ireland, hope they have the luck of the Irish when they join forces with Yard Line in Friday’s Grade II, $200,000 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

It will mark the first stakes race for Yard Line, a 3-year-old son of Discreet Cat owned by Godolphin Racing and bred by Darley in Kentucky.

“It’s a tough race,” Harty said. “We could use the luck of the Irish. Maybe it will rub off, because this is the first time I’ve ever ridden Fallon. Karma aside, I’ve got a world-class rider. You can’t knock his ability on a horse.”

Fallon demonstrated he plays no favorites with his global prowess when he guided  Notorious to a 5 ¼-length victory in Wednesday’s eighth race at a $97.20 win payoff, cementing a Pick Six carryover into Thursday of $32,989.60.

The field for the Twilight Derby, which goes as the fourth race: Sawyer’s Hill, Martin Garcia, 12-1; Talco, Corey Nakatani, 8-1; Ashleyluvssugar, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Divine Oath, Javier Castellano, 9-2; Patriots Rule, Fernando Perez, 12-1; Enterprising, Mike Smith, 7-2; Crushed It, Elvis Trujillo, 15-1; Flamboyant, Joel Rosario, 6-1; Sammy Mandeville, Rafael Bejarano, 20-1; Long on Value, Rosie Napravnik, 6-1; Ring Weekend, John Velazquez, 3-1; and Yard Line, Kieren Fallon, 20-1.

Source: Santa Anita Park