Absolute Ruler seeks European Road points in Patton Stakes

Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, Absolute Ruler won his debut over this track and trip Aug. 15. The son of War Front and the Group 1-winning Galileo mare Together Forever then switched to turf and finished a close third in the Champions Juvenile (G2) at Leopardstown. But Absolute Ruler was last seen disappointing here in the Oct. 1 Star Appeal S., where he went off favored but was never involved in 10th. The Coolmore and Westerberg homebred aims to rebound as a 9-5 chance on the morning line.

John the Baptist has not raced since his eighth in the Sept. 11 Champions Juvenile. From the first crop of Caravaggio, a champion sprinter by Scat Daddy, John the Baptist defied 50-1 odds to prevail in his Curragh premiere last July. 

Caravaggio is also the sire of In Ecstasy, who has captured two straight at this course and distance for Joseph O’Brien. The Peter Brant colorbearer broke his maiden Nov. 19 and toted top weight of 135 pounds successfully Dec. 15. 

The early favorite is a Juddmonte filly, Juncture, listed at 3-2. The Ger Lyons pupil performed well on the Leopardstown turf last summer, dominating a maiden and placing second in the Silver Flash (G3), both at seven furlongs. Juncture has been sidelined since that July 22 event, and the daughter of Dark Angel tries an extra furlong, and all-weather, in her comeback.

Two other fillies are engaged, both coming off Dundalk maiden wins. Angel Girl (also by Dark Angel) scored over six furlongs for Johnny Murtagh Feb. 1, while Sister Bridget wheels back after breaking through at this distance Feb. 21. 

Rounding out the field are local maiden winner Morning Soldier, exiting a seventh here on Dec. 1, and the 1-for-10 Mercurial, most recently runner-up in a Dundalk handicap in his first start for new connections.

The Patton goes off as Friday’s seventh race, with a post time of 3 p.m. (ET), and you can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.