Title Role just holds on from West End Kid in Belmont Derby

British shipper Title Role played the spoiler on the Fourth of July at Saratoga, just holding on from West End Kid and 1.51-1 favorite Remember Mamba in the $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1).

The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee was completing a Saturday double for the internationals, after Irish filly Kensington Lane upset the Belmont Oaks (G1). Interestingly, both were expected to remain stateside, with Title Role slated to transfer to Brendan Walsh.

The two have an ownership interest in common as well. Will Stroud, who recently came on board with the Coolmore partners in Title Role, is involved with Kensington Lane via Medallion Racing.

Title Role was likewise the type to handle U.S. conditions after scoring his marquee wins around a turn. Hero of the Feb. 28 Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan and the May 25 German 2000 Guineas (G2) at Cologne, the son of Too Darn Hot faced a stamina question on the step up to 1 1/8 miles here. But a heady ride by Hall of Famer John Velazquez helped him eke it out.

Sent off as a 7.34-1 chance, Title Role stalked in second as Touch of Fire led the way. Touch of Fire, who broke from post 10, had to reel off his opening quarter in :23.65 to get over. Then he slowed the pace down, reaching the half in :49.20 on the firm Mellon course.

Velazquez countered by nudging Title Role to press Touch of Fire, who increased the tempo at the six-furlong mark in 1:13.15. Touch of Fire tried to quicken away leaving the far turn, but the handy Title Role covered his move and took over in midstretch.

By that point, Title Role had negotiated the mile in 1:36.04 in an uneven race shape. The final furlong might have felt a bit long to him, just as his most dangerous rivals were playing their hands. 

The stalking West End Kid began to hit top gear, and Remember Mamba found his best stride wider out, to make it a three-way battle to the wire. Title Role dug in determinedly, but West End Kid appeared to have the superior momentum as the trio flashed home in a line abreast.

The camera revealed that Title Role kept his nose in front in a final time of 1:47.55. West End Kid was a neck up on Remember Mamba.

Touch of Fire kept on another length astern, barely salvaging fourth from Bottas in a blanket finish. Next came Third Coast, Charlie Appleby’s non-threatening Pacific Avenue, Blackmail, Tiernanogue, and Turf Star.

“It wasn’t really the game plan,” Ed Crisford said of how the race unfolded for Title Role. “We just wanted to take a sit a couple (lengths) back, but it is what it is – Johnny V, that’s why you put him on, he’s a great jockey. When they slowed it down on the backstretch, I was very happy with his position.

“I thought he would stay, to be fair. It’s only an extra furlong, and a lot of the jockeys had said it shouldn’t be a problem. It would be interesting to see a little bit further, but I do think the way the race panned out, he was doing quite a bit early, and it probably took its toll at the end of the race.”

Velazquez described his trip in forensic detail.

“I didn’t want to be that close. We talked about (how there was) not going to be any pace here. The horse outside of me (Touch of Fire) will be the speed. Tyler (Gaffalione on West End Kid) took back, and I see Flavien (Prat on Touch of Fire), and he is strangling the horse going to the lead. 

“There is no speed, so I put (Title Role) right behind (Touch of Fire) on the first turn. And then somebody else got to my outside and my horse got a little keen, so I put him into the clear. He relaxed pretty good there. And then from there I just wanted to wait, wait, wait, and try to save for the end. And he saved it.

“To tell you the truth,” Velazquez continued, “I thought I got it, but the jump after the wire, I was like, ‘did they (get) me, or was it after the wire?’ But I’ll tell you what, I have to give it to him because I asked him down the lead, he put the head down, and he was rolling. He was rolling like he just came out running. Even if he got beat, he ran a really good race, but I’m glad that we got it.”

Title Role, who paid $16.68, sports a mark of 8-5-1-1, $727,945. Sidelined after a photo-finish loss to the smart Humidity on debut at Newbury, he returned last October to crush a maiden on Kempton’s Polytrack. Title Role enjoyed a productive Dubai Carnival, progressing from a close third in his warm-up to win both the Jumeirah Guineas Trial and the Guineas itself. His lone poor effort came upon his British homecoming in the Greenham (G3) on a straightaway at Newbury, but he was back in his element for the German Guineas.

Purchased for about $694,673 at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, Title Role was bred in Great Britain by Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Stud. His dam, the Grade 3-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Valiant Girl, is a full sister to multiple Group 2 victor Bronze Cannon. Another full sibling is the blue hen Crimson Ribbon, whose offspring include Courage Mon Ami, winner of the 2023 Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot.

The Aug. 8 Saratoga Derby (G1) over a slightly longer 1 3/16-mile trip could be next, but regardless, his future lies stateside. 

“He’s going to stay in America,” Crisford reiterated. “I’ll need to speak with the owners whether we keep him for another race or not. Hopefully, we can and then he’s going to stay in America. He’ll suit America.

“I don’t think (the distance) is too much of an issue for him,” he added regarding the Saratoga Derby. “If he can ride more of a race in terms of not using so much petrol up early, I think he’ll get the trip.”