Bracken’s Laugh flies home in Cardinal on European Road

Apr 06, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The 10-1 shot Bracken’s Laugh got the last laugh on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, flying home to win Saturday’s Cardinal Conditions S. by 2 3/4 lengths at Chelmsford City.

But a venture to Churchill Downs is not on the cards for Bernardine and Sean Mulryan’s promising colt, whose victory would top the European leaderboard with 30 points. Trainer Richard Hughes has indicated that a return to turf is next, for the May 9 Dee S. at Chester.

Aidan O’Brien’s odds-on favorite, Capulet, appeared to be in the right stalking position in the Cardinal, drafting right behind front-running Orne. Yet the son of Triple Crown champion Justify was already being asked on the turn. A bumping match with fellow stalker Blue Lemons at the top of the stretch didn’t help, but Capulet couldn’t quicken enough in a one-paced third.

Meanwhile, Bracken’s Laugh was picking up smartly for jockey Finley Marsh. Covered up in midpack early, the Zoffany colt burst through a seam en route to a decisive score. Bracken’s Laugh polished off the Polytrack mile in 1:38.26 and paid $22.40 stateside.

Bracken's Laugh, last seen in Group 1 company, makes a fine return to action in our £100,000 @WoodfordReserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes, the final leg of the European Road To The @KentuckyDerby.

Congratulations to @RHughesracing, @Finleymarsh123 and Sean and Bernadine Mulryan pic.twitter.com/8H1W287bad

— Chelmsford City Racecourse (@ChelmsfordCRC) April 6, 2024

Orne held second by a half-length from Capulet, with Under the Sun getting up for fourth. Bergamasco, coming off a win in the Patton Race on the European Road, reported home fifth. Their respective positions would be worth points on the 15-9-6-3 scale, but like Bracken’s Laugh, they have not been nominated to the Triple Crown. Rounding out the order of finish were Blue Lemons, Cuban Tiger, and Redhot Whisper.

Bracken’s Laugh, who brought the joint top price of 200,000 guineas at last May’s Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale, is now 2-for-3. Debuting in the vaunted Haynes, Hanson & Clark novice at Newbury Sept. 22, he rallied to post a mild upset. Bracken’s Laugh took a class and distance hike for the about 1 1/4-mile Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1), only to tire to fifth on very soft going. The bay was then put away for the winter, and showed plenty in his return to action here.

With the European Road to the Kentucky Derby now concluded, the early Triple Crown nominee with the most points is Navy Seal. The O’Brien colt earned eight points on the European Road, and he also garnered 10 points on the main leaderboard via his fifth in the UAE Derby (G2) (points that can be added to his European total).