Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Spendthrift Farms' Further Ado (Gun Runner), who will make his next start in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs, ran sensationally in his last start, winning a Keeneland maiden by 20 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer figure. The Beyer number is tied for the second fastest race by a 2-year-old in 2025 and earned the colt 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' status. But he's also somewhat of a mystery. Why did he run so poorly in his first two races and can he once again turn...

Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo), winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November, has been forced off the Triple Crown trail by a hairline fracture in his left hock, according to trainer Eoin Harty. The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form's Dave Grening. First Resort was expected to make his sophomore debut in Saturday's John Battaglia Stakes, but was scratched out of that race when when Harty noticed stiffness in that left leg following a work at Turfway Feb. 18. The injury is not expected to...

First Resort (Uncle Mo) sat a perfect, stalking trip beneath Luis Saez and held off a late rally from the odds-on 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) to give Godolphin a sweep of Saturday's graded races for 2-year-olds in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. With the victory, First Resort collected 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Off to a good start from his outside draw racing beneath the lights, the homebred was placed in a fantastic spot in second by Saez to press...

Points towards the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks will be up for grabs with a pair of graded races for juveniles Saturday at Churchill Downs. Eight colts face off in the 1 1/16-mile GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and an equal number of fillies head postward in the GII Golden Rod S. a race earlier on the card. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Risk It (Gun Runner), who already owns five Derby points thanks to his runner-up effort in the Sept. 16 GIII Iroquois S., is...

Smile Happy (Runhappy) built on a monster 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut victory on closing day at Keeneland Oct. 29 with an equally eye-catching score in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Saturday at Churchill Downs, establishing himself as one of the early favorites for the GI Kentucky Derby about six months down the road. Welcome to Fantasy Island, Lucky Seven Stable. A generous 24-5 third favorite despite the domination of that towering 5 1/2-length graduation, Smile Happy landed in about fifth spot, just ahead of centerfield, as Street Sense S....

Howling Time (Not This Time) will try to take his record to three-for-three as the likely favorite in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Graduating on debut sprinting at Churchill Sept. 25, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer took to two turns with aplomb, winning the Oct. 1 Street Sense S. by 3 1/4 lengths. Also exiting the Street Sense are third place Red Knobs (Union Rags) and fifth place Guntown (Gun Runner). "We always thought he showed some promise in his training," trainer Dale Romans said....

Kentucky West Racing and Clark Cooper's Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) is on target for the Nov. 27 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs following a five-furlong work in :59.40 (2/59) in Louisville Saturday. The chestnut colt, an eye-catching 6 1/2-length debut winner at Saratoga in September, set the pace before finishing third as the favorite in the Oct. 9 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland last time out. "He's always been a horse that breaks sharp from the gate," trainer Brian Lynch said. "We knew that going into...