With Kentucky Derby near, international races highlight weekend racing

Take a Breath wins Saturday's Grade III Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita. Benoit Photography, courtesy of Santa Anita

"It was pretty painless," winning rider Zac Purton said. "The Japanese have sent their best sprinter over today and he's handled him with a lot of authority."

Romantic Warrior, currently holding down the No. 2 spot in the Longines Rankings, won his fifth straight race in the 2,000-meters QE II Cup against a field acclaimed before the race as one of the strongest in decades.

With James McDonald in the kip, the 8-year-old hit the front with 250 meters left and coasted home first by 1 length. Immediately in his wake were major international stars Masquerade Ball from Japan, Sosie from France and Royal Champion from England.

"He is just bulletproof, really," McDonald said of Romantic Warrior. "I thought the opposition today was very warranted. I had great respect for it and was actually quite worried about it with that Masquerade Ball. I thought he was incredible, and he is one of the best in Japan."

My Wish might not be at the star level of Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, but he certainly did his job in the Champions Mile. Racing from off the pace, he took the lead midway down the Sha Tin stretch and held off Cap Ferrat by a neck, reversing the order of finish from the 2025 Hong Kong Derby.

Another Japanese powerhouse, top miler and race favorite Jantar Mantar, beat only one rival after missing the break.

France

Reigning Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz picked right up where he left off in October with a smashing victory in Sunday's Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

The Sea the Stars colt settled perfectly for jockey Mickael Barzalona, waited patiently and then responded immediately when given the go sign, spurting off to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Trainer Francis Graffard said Daryz "is definitely stronger and is more mature," Racing Post reported. He said the goal now is the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, with an intervening run to keep him sharp.

That, he said, might be the May 21 race formerly called the Prix Ispahan, now the Prix Aga Khan IV -- appropriate as Daryz runs for his breeder, the Aga Khan Studs, now helmed by the charming Princess Zahra.

England

Sandown had three important early-season events Friday.

William Buick took Opera Ballo right to the lead in the Group 2 bet365 Mile and cruised home first by 3 lengths over the even-money favorite, Field of Gold. Previously undefeated Zeus Olympios settled for third.

Opera Ballo, a Godolphin homebred 4-year-old by Ghalyyath, got his seventh win from nine starts. The wins include the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in Dubai in his previous outing.

Shadwell's Raaheeb, always close, went to the lead 2 furlongs out in the Group 3 Bet364 Classic Trial at 1 1/4 miles and kicked away to a 3 1/4-length victory over Godolphin's Al Zanoti. Wise Prince was third and Coolmore's Action was fourth.

Raheeb, a Sea the Stars colt, was making just his second start.

Saddadd outfinished King of Cities to win the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths, with the favorite, Almeric, third.

Meanwhile, back in North America:

Filly & mare sprint / dirt mile

One Magic Philly pressured pacesetting Jersey Pearl through the early furlongs of Saturday's $200,000 Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs, shot to the front entering the stretch and ran on to win by 2 lengths. The 5-year-old Good Magic mare finished 6 furlongs in 1:08.64 for jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Queen's Martini was shaken up to take a daylight lead in the stretch in Saturday's $200,000 Dig a Diamond Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and then survived a stirring duel with the late-running Pronghorn to win by a nose.

Queen's Martini, a 5-year-old Mucho Macho Man mare, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:37.12.

Mony Mony quickly wrested the lead from an early rival in Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the Woodbine all-weather and held off Lakota Lady to win by 1 length.

Mony Mony, a Munnings filly invading from Kentucky, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.02.

Filly & mare turf

Speed Shopper found her best stride in the final furlongs of Friday's $350,000 Grade III Bewitch at Keeneland, circled four-wide to gain the lead and kicked clear to a 1 1/4-length victory. Golden Sunshine was second.

Speed Shopper, a 5-year-old Quality Road mare, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:29.00 with John Velazquez riding for trainer William Walden.

Turf mile

Take a Breath challenged for the lead nearing the quarter pole in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Royal Heroine at Santa Anita, battled down the lane with rivals on both sides and finished first by 1/2 length over May Day Ready. Pacesetter Grand Slam Smile was another 1/2 length back in third.

Take a Breath, a British-bred 4-year-old filly by Bated Breath, stopped the clock at 1:34.95. Emisael Jaramillo rode for trainer Mark Glatt.

Blackmail tracked the leading pair early in Saturday's $150,000 Woodhaven for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct, took an inside course to get the lead and held off the odds-on favorite, Instability, winning by a neck. The Not This Time gelding finished in 1:40.21 with Javier Castellano in the irons for trainer Mark Casse.

Sunday at the Big A, Fitz Right found her best stride late and captured the $150,000 Memories of Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 3 1/2 lengths with Imperatrice best of the rests. The Charlatan filly, trained by Chad Brown, was clocked in 1:40.52 under Flavien Prat.