Making only his third start, AIR FORCE BLUE won Europe’s first G1 2-year-old race of the season taking the Curragh’s Keeneland Phoenix S.-G1 by an emphatic two lengths. The son of WAR FRONT raced near the back for the first 1/2 mile of this six-furlong sprint. Under jockey Joseph O’Brien AIR FORCE BLUE started his strong rally from there and unleashed a powerful closing kick in the final furlong to win his second race in three starts. In his only other start he was runner-up in Royal Ascot’s Coventry S.-G2. Bred by Stone Farm out of Chatham, by Maria’s Mon, he was a $490,000 purchase out of last year’s Keeneland September sale. The Aidan O’Brien trainee races for Mrs. Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
