By Stefanie Grimm
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. picked up the first Grade I of Kentucky Derby day Saturday as 7-1 shot R Disaster (Awesome Slew) caught a flyer from the gate and took the field gate to wire under Tyler Gaffalione.
Never off the board in 15 prior starts, the Florida-bred entered off a third when caught on the lead in the seven-furlong GI Madison Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 6, her first try at the top level. Clearly a mare who takes her racetrack with her, she's continued to post increasing Beyer Speed Figures at just about every track on the East Coast, from Joseph Jr.'s Gulfstream base to Saratoga, Aqueduct, Delaware Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
The second-longest shot on the board Saturday and drawn widest of the five, R Disaster was able to put a length on the field and clear to the inside by the time the quintet linked up with the main track out of the chute. Staying well off the rail, she was chased intently up the backstretch by the looming Bob Baffert-trained duo of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner and even-money favorite Splendora (Audible) and GI La Brea winner Usha (Tiz the Law). Returning 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ways and Means (Practical Joke), unraced since winning the GII Bed 'O Roses Stakes at Saratoga early last June, sat fourth outside through the half in :45.06 but began to move when shaken up midway around the far turn.
The final furlong initially began as a four-wide charge across the track but R Disaster refused to be headed as Ways and Means and Splendora came together in a fight for running room and Usha fought for a gap inside of that pair. As the favorite got squeezed and dropped out of it, Ways and Means continued to come on but raced greenly close to home and never truly threatened to close the gap, letting R Disaster scamper away for her first Grade I win.
“She ran her race last time in the Madison,” said Joseph, Jr. “The pace was extremely fast last time–faster than we would have liked. We didn't originally intend to come back in this race, but she bounced out of her last work very well. So, we decided to enter and see what happens. We knew there were some Grade I-caliber fillies in this race but she was doing so well. Tyler gave her the perfect ride today.”
Gaffalione was plenty confident post-race as well, saying, “This filly came here ready to run today. As soon as the gate popped open, she broke alertly, I was able to put my hands down and let her find her stride. She was traveling so easy that I knew (down the stretch), she was going to be able to find another gear. The rest of horses weren't much of a threat.”
Pedigree Note:
R Disaster is the first Grade I winner for Ocala Stud-based Awesome Slew. First dam Making Havoc, purchased as an OBS April 2-year-old for $55,000 in 2012 and a winning daughter of Gottcha Gold, has two winners from as many to race. She is a half-sister to another talented Florida-bred in R Adios Jersey (Adios Charlie) who banked nearly $400,000 racing between Tampa and Gulfstream.
Making Havoc's 2-year-old of this year, a filly by Colonel Liam, brought $15,000 from Averill Racing (co-owner of R Disaster) at this year's OBS March Sale. After not taking on her 2025 cover to Ocala Stud's Colonel Liam, Making Havoc reported a colt by that same stallion earlier this year.
R DISASTER wins the G1 Derby City Distaff in gate-to-wire fasion under jockey @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @SaffieJosephJr!#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/fKdANywQrH
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 2, 2026
Saturday, Churchill Downs
DERBY CITY DISTAFF S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $923,000, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:20.94, ft.
1–R DISASTER, 123, m, 5, by Awesome Slew
1st Dam: Making Havoc, by Gottcha Gold
2nd Dam: Marion Theatre, by Montbrook
3rd Dam: Velvet Choaker, by On to Glory
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Averill Racing, LLC and ATM Racing; B-Ocala Stud & J. Michael O'Farrell Jr. (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $558,000. Lifetime Record: 16-9-6-1, $1,327,015. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ways and Means, 123, m, 5, by Practical Joke
1st Dam: Strong Incentive (SW, $123,568), by Warrior's Reward
2nd Dam: G G's Dolly, by Comic Strip
3rd Dam: Parfait, by Kingmambo
O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $200,000.
3–Usha, 123, f, 4, by Tiz the Law
1st Dam: Animal Appeal (SP, $220,298), by Leroidesanimaux (Brz)
2nd Dam: Appealing Card, by Valid Appeal
3rd Dam: What a Card, by Wig Out
($30,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG; $600,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman; B-Esler & Raine (NY); T-Bob Baffert. $90,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 3/4, 6HF. Odds: 7.13, 1.87, 4.79.
Also Ran: Splendora, Autumn Evening. Scratched: Haulin Ice.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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