No Derby, no problem: Frankie Dettori lands big-race double on maiden visit to Penn National

Frankie Dettori: broke new ground with victory at Penn National on his first visit to the trackCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Frankie Dettori may be absent from the Betfred Derby line-up but his career in the United States hit another high on Friday, when he landed a big-race double when riding at Penn National for the first time.

The jockey, who a year ago was riding the favourite Arrest in the Epsom Classic, has enjoyed a strong start to life in the US since making the move towards the end of 2023 and landed the first part of his double aboard the George Arnold-trained Poolside With Slim in the Penn Oaks.

The 53-year-old, making his first visit to the Pennsylvania track, followed up in the feature Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes, scooping $252,000 when partnering the Brendan Walsh-trained First World War.

Since his switch across the Atlantic, Dettori has enjoyed ten Graded victories, two of them coming at the top level in the Santa Anita Handicap and Jenny Wiley Stakes at Santa Anita and Keeneland respectively.

In April, he rode six consecutive winners at Santa Anita, netting one punter £110,880 from a £1 bet.

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