Leading 2-year-old Dublin wins the Grade 1 Hopeful 5 years after his sire Afleet Alex. Adam Coglianese photo

Five years ago, Afleet Alex picked up the first signature win of his illustrious racing career when he captured the Hopeful S. (G1). Now at stud, the dual Classic-winning champion pulled off an impressive double on Sept. 7th, as Dublin – a colt from Afleet Alex’s first crop – followed in his sire’s hoofprints by capturing the prestigious $300,000 race for juveniles at Saratoga.

Breaking from post No. 11, Dublin was never far off the early pace while being forced to track wide, as they clipped through a quick opening half-mile in 44.97 seconds. Coming off the far turn, the grand-looking chestnut began to pick up the fading pacesetters and took charge turning for home. A few taps of the whip by jockey Jamie Theriot and Dublin finished straight and strong the final sixteenth of a mile, proving best of the dozen 2-year-olds in this year’s Hopeful. He hit the wire a decisive two-length winner, stopping the clock in 1:23.52 over a fast track.

“I think (more) distance won’t be a problem for him,” Theriot said of Dublin, who was bet down to favoritism in the Hopeful. “We will see a different horse when he goes two turns. My idea was to come to Saratoga and find myself a (Kentucky) Derby horse. We think he’s a good one.”

If it requires the care of a good horseman to get the talented Dublin to the Derby, nobody has done it better than the colt’s trainer – four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas.

“This was my No. 1 pick in the sales,” said Lukas, who won his sixth Hopeful on Labor Day Monday. “I still haven’t lost my eye in that (department). He has a long, rangy stride. He’s got a lot of balance to him. He’s pretty gifted. I like to play in the main arena — these 2-year olds, when they turn three, that’s the name of the game. Bill Mack and Bob Baker are the reason this horse is here.”

Mack and Baker, the colt’s owners, are the beneficiaries of Dublin’s earnings of $215,415 – and more importantly the Derby Dreams that accompany the colt. Dublin, a $525,000 yearling purchase a year ago at Keeneland September, arrived on the scene last month with one of the most impressive maiden wins of the Saratoga meeting.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum & Gerry Dilger, Dublin is out of the great racemare Classy Mirage, a Grade 1-winning daughter of Storm Bird. The colt showed the class of both his dam and his sire Afleet Alex, who was an impressive winner of the 2004 Hopeful and went on to excel in the Classics in 2005, winning both the Preakness and Belmont in sublime performances.

Now a Leading Freshman Sire, Afleet Alex has a Grade 1 winner and leading juvenile to match his stellar on-the-track credentials. He currently sits No. 2 on the Freshman Sire List and is climbing it rapidly.

As for Dublin, he could make his next start in either the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont or the Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1) at Keeneland – both next month – with the main goal this year being the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November.

As for the main goal beyond this year, it seems pretty clear Lukas et al have roses on their minds.