Spencer doubles up with Haatem, Take Charge Star at Kentucky Downs

European shippers plundered three prizes at Kentucky Downs on Monday, and jockey Jamie Spencer was responsible for two of them. 

After guiding Wathnan Racing’s Haatem to a 9.92-1 triumph in the $1.362 million Mint Millions (G3), Spencer delivered a trademark last-to-first flourish aboard Maribeth Sandford’s 2.30-1 favorite Take Charge Star in the $1,105,275 Franklin-Simpson (G2). 

Both of their trainers were registering their first North American wins, although from limited starts. Haatem is trained by Richard Hannon Jr., who’d had 10 previous starters on this side of the pond. 

Take Charge Star represents jockey-turned-trainer Johnny Murtagh, who was sending out just his third stateside runner. His most recent was Siege of Troy, the third-placer in the 2024 Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3) here. During his riding days, Murtagh scored five North American Grade 1 wins, including the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) aboard Ridgewood Pearl and the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) with Kalanisi. 

Mint Millions (G3)

Haatem hadn’t won since the 2025 Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot, but the five-year-old veteran is capable on his day, and circumstances aligned for him here. 

Off a beat slow, the son of Phoenix of Spain was rousted along to secure position just behind the frenetic pace of :22.78, :44.38, and 1:07.86 on the firm course. That enabled him to make use of his stamina while getting the jump on the closers.

Haatem traveled well to strike the front and fend off the persistent challenge of Lagynos by a neck. Another half-length away in third came Brilliant Berti, who didn’t have much luck trying to get into the clear. 

Next came Chasing the Crown; Gran Oriente; French invader Facteur Cheval, who was a detached last early but hit his stride late; the non-threatening 2.69-1 favorite, Formidable Man; early pace duelists Quatrocento and Giocoso; and Mi Bago.

Haatem sped the mile in 1:34.32 to enhance his resume to 22-6-2-4 with more than $1.24 million in his account. His other stakes victories include the 2023 Vintage (G2) along with the 2024 Craven (G3) and Jersey (G3). Also during that sophomore season, Haatem was third to Notable Speech in Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas (G1), and he missed narrowly to his excellent stablemate, Rosallion, in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1). 

Bred by Hyde Park Stud in Ireland, Haatem is out of the Cape Cross mare Hard Walnut. 

Franklin-Simpson (G2)

Once on the classic trail himself, Take Charge Star’s hopes evaporated with an eighth behind Gstaad in the May 23 renewal of the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. But the well-bred son of Starspangledbanner has fared much better dropping back in trip. A neck shy in the June 20 Jersey and a close fourth in the Aug. 9 Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), he scored a new career high here.

Take Charge Star’s backers may have held their breath when he whiffed the break and lagged at the rear of the 12-horse field. But he got the right pace set-up with fractions of :22.05 and :44.23, and Spencer artfully deployed his closing kick on the inside. Take Charge Star made eye-catching progress and burst clear while clocking 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.45.

Another 1 1/4 lengths back came Two Out Hero, who headed Alpyland for second. Oscar’s Hope rounded out the superfecta in fourth, followed by Blinging It Back, Obliteration, Learntodiscover, Throckmorton, early leader Honey Dutch, Immortalised, Hey Nay Nay, and Vasy. The also-eligibles – Creole Chrome, Later Than Planned, Reb Five, and Trouble Calling – were all scratched.

Take Charge Star’s scorecard now stands at 9-2-2-1, $573,654. A half-brother to Group 1 heroine Albigna, Take Charge Star was bred by the Niarchos Family in Ireland and sold for nearly $325,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling. 

The bay is out of the Group 2-winning Selkirk mare Freedonia, who was best of the rest behind turf champion English Channel in the 2006 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). This is the family of Domedriver, famous for upsetting Rock of Gibraltar in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile. 

Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies

The successful raiding party started with Citrus Springs from the yard of Joseph O’Brien, himself a Breeders’ Cup winner as both a jockey and trainer. By capturing the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies, the Kentucky-bred became the first stakes winner for freshman sire Olympiad.

Forwardly placed by Ben Curtis, the 3.73-1 Citrus Springs prompted longshot leader Elegante Miz through fractions of :23.12, :46.29, and 1:10.42 before wearing her down. Up Before the Dawn then rallied boldly, but Citrus Springs held on by a head in 1:35.49 for the mile. Elegante Miz finished a clear third, and 1.43-1 favorite Conflict closed from last for fourth.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Citrus Springs, a $300,000 OBS March purchase, sports a mark of 4-2-1-0, $466,161. Runner-up two back to Jim Bolger’s well-regarded Sea of Rain, who later won the Flame of Tara (G3), Citrus Springs was coming off a five-length maiden romp at Gowran Park.

Citrus Springs was bred by International Equities Holdings. Her dam, the Tale of the Cat mare California Spirit, is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Protonico.

Gun Runner S.

Two days after Caroline St. Beat struck for Miguel Clement in the Nashville Derby (G2), stablemate Bottas scooped up another lucrative win in the turf sophomore division in the $1,748,056 Gun Runner S.

The Dahman colorbearer ranked as the 2.44-1 favorite in light of his recent victory in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga. Bottas displayed maneuverability and gears worthy of his namesake, the Formula One driver, to make it two in a row here. Under a well-timed Jose Ortiz ride, he zoomed through traffic to overhaul pacesetter Conducted by 1 1/4 lengths. His time of 1:34.55 was just off the older Haatem’s clocking in the Mint Millions.

Conducted, who carved out strong splits of :23.74, :46.45, and 1:09.45, finished a clear second from Fuzzbuster. Touch of Fire, farther behind than usual in the early going, was along for fourth. 

Bottas boosted his bankroll to $1,455,263, and his 7-4-0-1 line reflects a hard-fought decision in last fall’s Pilgrim (G2) and a third in his June 4 Pennine Ridge (G3) comeback. The Vekoma colt’s unplaced efforts came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and the Belmont Derby (G1), where he wasn’t beaten far in fifth. 

The $300,000 OBS April graduate was bred by BCS Thoroughbreds in Kentucky. Out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Iadorakid, Bottas is a half-brother to stakes scorer Parenting. The mare is herself a half-sister to Canadian champion El Tormenta. 

Lucky Lantern S.

Jockey Keith Asmussen, riding for father-in-law Patrick Biancone, guided Laigina to an 8.27-1 upset of the $250,000 Lucky Lantern S. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint was restricted to three-year-old fillies who had not won a stakes, and she had been knocking on the door with four stakes placings in turf routes at her Gulfstream Park base.

The cutback suited the daughter of emerging sprint sire Leinster. Racing well off the hot early pace of :22.55 and :45.41, Laigina rolled late to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:16.05. Snappy Comeback took second from Faye’s Gold, and pacesetter Lit Ship was relegated to fourth. 

Laigina has earned $304,710 from a record of 11-3-3-1 for Green with MV Stable and Patrick L. Biancone Racing. Bred by Diamond 100 Racing Club in Florida, Laigina is out of the Brother Derek mare Patriotic Brother. This is the immediate family of multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Diamond Oops, also trained by Biancone.