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).