Further Ado passes first stakes test in Kentucky Jockey Club

A 20-length maiden winner at Keeneland, Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado didn’t blow out the competition while making his stakes debut in Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, but the progressive two-year-old colt still commendably proved best, driving past Soldier N Diplomat in deep stretch and scoring by a 1 3/4-length margin.

“This was a really good test for him,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He won very impressively last time. Today, he had to show a different dimension and really dig down late to get by. It’s very important to get a horse like this started early on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully, he can bring us right back here in the spring.”

The odds-on favorite provided Cox with his 500th winner at Churchill Downs, and the colt will enter winter as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2, picking up his first points toward a berth by winning the Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier. The top five finishers received points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the chestnut son of Gun Runner, and Further Ado completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33. After dropping his first two starts in sprints, the Kentucky-bred has thrived in a pair of starts at two-turn distances.

“He was able to show a different dimension today,” Ortiz Jr. said. “I was able to let the speed go and sit a pretty good trip. He had to really dig in late to get to the wire first. I think this race will really benefit him down the road.” 

Further Ado rated a few lengths off the pace as Dr. Kapur sprinted to the fore and established opening splits in :23.35, :46.76, and 1:10.84 while being pressed by Soldier N Diplomat, who forged past the pacesetter on the far turn and took a narrow lead into the stretch. Further Ado was gaining to his outside and advanced to offer a serious challenge while straightening for home.

Soldier N Diplomat, who was off as the 7-1 fourth choice following a nine-length allowance win in late October, proved game when challenged, but weakened late and lost second to fast-finishing Universe, who was off at 12-1 following a runner-up in the Oct. 26 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill. It was another couple of lengths back to Very Connected in fourth, and Cherokee Nation, Dr. Kapur, and Spice Runner came next under the wire. 

Bred by John Oxley, owner of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, Further Ado passed through the sales ring twice, commanding $275,000 as a yearling before selling to Spendthrift for $550,000 at the OBS April two-year-old sale. He’s out of Grade 3 runner-up Sky Dreamer, a daughter of Sky Mesa, and Further Ado counts multiple graded winner Kimbear as a half-brother. The extended female family includes champion older mare Beautiful Pleasure, multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Mecke, and Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing.