Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's Arizona Blaze bounced back from a disappointing run last time out to win the five-furlong Flying Five Stakes (G1) at The Curragh Sept. 14 under David Egan for trainer Adrian Murray. The victory gave Arizona Blaze an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
The 3-year-old son of Sergei Prokofiev was the favorite for the Aug. 22 Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) when finishing 11th of 17 runners despite winning the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in July.
Arizona Blaze lined up as one of two leading contenders for trainer Adrian Murray in the Amo Racing colors, along with the hat-trick-seeking Bucanero Fuerte.
Bucanero Fuerte was the shorter of the two in the betting at 9-2, but Arizona Blaze (11-2) was the choice of Amo Racing's retained rider David Egan. whose decision was justified as his mount kept on well to land the group 1 feature contest by one length from Nighteyes, with Bucanero Fuerte in third.
Egan said: "If anyone deserves a group 1, it's Arizona. He was narrowly defeated as a juvenile and nearly won the Commonwealth Cup (at Royal Ascot). I'm delighted for him today as the son of Sergei Prokofiev—he's a group 1 horse and they've been campaigning him for that.
"Another group 1 for Kia and for myself is very gracious and humbling—onto the next one!"
Arizona Blaze finished second in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar, and a return trip appears to be an option according to Amo Racing boss Kia Joorabchian, who said: "I think Arizona will go on to the Breeders' Cup—we'll have a lot of fun with him."
Arizona Blaze completed the five furlongs in :59.03 on a surface listed as yielding.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Arizona Blaze to start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which will be run at five furlongs. The Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
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