'TDN Rising Star' Big Truzz was stout and fearless as he notched the first stakes win of his career when he took down the Ellis Park Derby on Sunday afternoon.
Garnering the 'Rising Star' rosette on debut at Keeneland Apr. 12, he was tasked with taking on optional claiming company May 3 at Churchill Downs and ran a solid second to fellow 'Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief), who was most recently seen winning the GI Woody Stephens June 7 where Big Truzz ran third. On July 5 in the GIII Indiana Derby, the son of Justify finished in the back half of the field.
The Brian Lynch trainee was a different horse at Ellis Park as a 2-1 shot here. The dark bay put himself into contention right from the jump, sailed into the lead off the bend, and left his rivals in his wake to win by an eye-catching margin in 1:34.73, just three-fifths of a second off the track record. Jimmy's Dailys (Vekoma) was second and Admiral Dennis (Constitution) claimed third.
“I've been waiting through that breakthrough race,” traine Brian Lynch said. “I might've wheeled him back too quickly in the Indiana Derby. He was able to stalk nicely and had a lot of horse left. It was nice to see him draw off like that in the end.”
The first foal for his dam, Big Truzz counts 2-year-old Bullet Catch (Justify) and a weanling by Medaglia d'Oro as half-brothers. Saralin visited Essential Quality for next spring. The winner's dam is a half-sister to GSW Sarah's Secret (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and GI Carter Handicap hero Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge).
ELLIS PARK DERBY, $300,000, Ellis, 8-10, 3yo, 1m, 1:34.73, ft.
1–BIG TRUZZ, 118, c, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Saralin, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Sarasota (Arg), by Luhuk
3rd Dam: Sandals (Arg), by Southern Halo
($300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. 'TDN RisingStar'. O-Flying Dutchmen; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Kaleen Shah Inc. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $182,070. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $333,555.
2–Jimmy's Dailys, 118, c, 3, Vekoma–Mama Joyce, by First Dude. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Donald R. Dizney, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $59,700.
3–Admiral Dennis, 120, c, 3, Constitution–Gulf Coast, by Union Rags. ($425,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $29,850.
Margins: 7, NK, 4HF. Odds: 2.12, 11.35, 1.31.
Also Ran: Big Boat, Master Controller, Sinister Smile. Scratched: Brodeur, Retribution.
Click for the Equibase.com chart.
Back-to-back stakes wins for the @blynchracing barn, and a fifth win today for jockey @tyler_gaff! 💪
Big Truzz put on a big performance in the Ellis Park Derby @ellisparkracing! 🤩
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/pQMZkodSiC
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 10, 2025
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