Salamis (USA)
b c Speightstown - Antonoe (First Defence)
Chad Brown
Salamis debuted as a juvenile in September 2024 and got two runs under his belt before the season end. He opened his three-year-old season with third place finish in a Keeneland maiden before breaking his maiden at Saratoga in August. He followed this up with his first blacktype win next time out in the Gio Ponti Stakes at Aqueduct.
His next run saw him a close fifth in the Gr.3 Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland, his first race in Graded company. Just over a month later he outran his rivals to take the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. Salamis closed from sixth turning into the straight and sprinted to line, taking the win by a neck.
Assistant Trainer Jose Hernandez said: "This horse is really talented, and I knew he could get there. "He's been running well in his last three races. He's been training really well at Keeneland and here. He deserved to win this race."
Homebred Salamis is the second Graded Stakes winner out of Grade 1-winning First Defence mare Antonoe. His half-sister Segesta took the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar a day after Salamis won the Gr.1 Hollywood Derby.
