Rhetorical wires Turf Classic in stakes-record time

After a frustrating third in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), Rhetorical took the early initiative in Saturday’s $1.414 million Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs and never looked back.

The 1.96-1 favorite not only handled the added ground in his first attempt at the 1 1/8-mile distance, but he eclipsed the 33-year-old stakes record held by Hall of Famer Lure.

Trained by Will Walden and piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr., Rhetorical dictated fractions of :23.51, :47.40, and 1:10.70. The son of Not This Time opened up down the lane and crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths clear of Wathnan Racing’s international shipper Make Me King.

Rhetorical blitzed in 1:45.96, lowering Lure’s old stakes mark of 1:46.34. The New York-bred gelding was just a couple of ticks off champion She Feels Pretty’s course record of 1:45.51.

"It was beautiful," Ortiz said. "He broke great and relaxed really well for me. He showed another gear when I asked him to go. I was confident the whole way."

Make Me King had 3 1/2 lengths to spare over third-placer Corruption. Program Trading, the 2024 winner of this race, reported home fourth. Next came Mercante; Dashman; the badly hampered Gold Phoenix, who was shut off on the inside in the stretch; Test Score; and Asbury Park. Astronomer was scratched.

Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable, and Wachtel Stable’s Rhetorical, who paid $5.92, improved his record to 9-6-0-2, $1,806,730. The dark bay burst onto the scene last season, progressing from his victorious stakes debut in the West Point S. for New York-breds to win the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland. Fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar, he resumed in the Maker’s Mark Mile, and continued his ascent in the division here.

"The key for this horse was getting him in front," Walden said. "He’s a real Alpha male; he wants to dominate every group of horses. When he got out front today, I saw everything change. His demeanor, his body language, he liked it out there. 

"We had him down at Palm Meadows this winter and did a lot of basic things with him. It was real good for him. Yes, he’s the best horse I’ve had so far; far and away.”

Bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort in the Empire State, Rhetorical is a half-brother to millionaire Sterling Silver. They were produced by the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor. 

Join us for our 2026 Kentucky Derby LIVE Coverage during Kentucky Derby Weekend!

Kentucky Derby Day 12:30 PM ET - 6:30 PM ET
Kentucky Oaks Day 3:30 PM ET - 8:30 PM ET
Thurby Day 5:00 PM ET - 6:30 PM ET
 

Kentucky Derby | Betting | Future Wager | Odds | Handicapping | RTKD Prep Races | Contenders | Workouts | Winners | History | Results | Tickets