Girvin

Girvin won his career debut in December at Fair Grounds before a runner-up finish on the grass in the Keith Gee Memorial Overnight Stakes in his second start and his 3-year-old debut.

Trainer Joe Sharp then targeted the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes with the dark bay or brown Tale of Ekati colt. Girvin closed from off the pace in the Risen Star and powered clear to a dominat two-length victory.

Girvin left the starting gate in the April 1 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby as the 8-5 favorite, and he did not disappoint, taking command in midstretch under Hernandez after tracking in fourth through the far turn and drawing away to a two-length win. That tripled Girvin’s Kentucky Derby qualifying points to 150, easily securing him a spot in the May 6 classic.

Girvin encountered some foot issues leading up to the Kentucky Derby and then endured a troubled trip and finished 13th. He ran well in his next race when second by a nose to Irap in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in June, setting him up for a start in the July 30 Grade 1 betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes.

With Robby Albarado aboard for the first time, Girvin sat well off of the pacesetters in the Haskell Invitational Stakes, and closed strongly through the center of Monmouth Park’s stretch to edge McCraken by a nose and score the first win at the highest level for trainer Sharp. Girvin also earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with the win.

In his next start, the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga on Aug. 26, Girvin settled in midpack through the backstretch but never made his usual closing move when turning for home, finishing 11^th in the 12-horse field. Girvin then was unplaced in the Oklahoma Derby before taking a break over the winter. He returned to the track on May 6, 2018, and finished second to Bee Jersey in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes at Lone Star Park.

Out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, Girvin is a half-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to graded stakes winner Cocked and Loaded.