Title Role was one British raider that could not be repelled on the fourth of July when gamely holding on for victory in the G1 Belmont Derby Stakes over 1m1f at Saratoga.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt was confirmed to have landed the spoils after a prolonged wait for the judge's call in a very tight photo finish, where he was eventually deemed to have held on from the fast-finishing West End Kid. After a fairly even break, John Velazquez' mount was keen to get on with things, pulling himself into contention on the heels of the free-running leader and sticking a length behind him in second place. Cornering beautifully and with his head down, Title Role drew alongside as they headed for home. He displayed admirable tenacity as he stretched out within the final furlong, holding on for victory by the shortest margin as they flashed over the line.
Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs, Title Role is out of the mare Valiant Girl (Lemon Drop Kid), herself a G3 winner Stateside. He is the most prolific of her progeny and a half-brother to six further individual winners, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Valedictory ( Cracksman ).
Too Darn Hot continues to add more international Stakes winners to his CV, with an expanding portfolio of winners at the very highest level around the world. Already the sire of five European G1 juveniles from three crops, his yearlings make waves in the sales ring with his latest crop outselling his first two with a £164k average and million-guinea top lot.
