Part of a Claiborne sire stakes double on Saturday, ORB registered his newest stakes winner when multiple stakes placed Eagle Orb won the Notebook Stakes at Aqueduct. Second in two of his three previous stakes attempts, the juvenile colt broke through to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Blue Gator.
Eager to get the race started, Eagle Orb settled once the race was underway and was content to track the leaders on the rail in the compact field. Half-way through the six furlongs, Eagle Orb switched to the outside to give himself clear running room around the far turn. As they entered the stretch, Eagle Orb drew even with the leaders and raced by with a furlong left to run as jockey Manny Franco gave him an easy hand ride to the line. “This horse always shows up,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “I was a little disappointed why we didn’t get the last two wins. He’s been close at Saratoga and at Belmont. He was close, but I’m very happy for the owner to win this race. He was knocking at the door.”The 2-year-old colt races for E.V. Racing Stable, who purchased him for $95,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Sale. Now the earner of over $153,000 in his five career starts, the Barry Ostrager-bred is out of the stakes-placed Lady on Holiday.
A half-brother to six other winners, Eagle Orb is bred on the same Orb x Harlan’s Holiday cross as fellow juvenile stakes winner Orb Ruler.
The sire of seven graded stakes performers in 2020, Kentucky Derby winner Orb leads all fourth crop sires in that category and is among the leaders by number of stakes performers at nine.