Further Ado surged past Soldier N Diplomat in mid-stretch and powered away late to score a decisive victory in the 99th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. The 1 ¾-length triumph also delivered Louisville native Brad Cox his landmark 500th career win beneath the Twin Spires.
Owned by Eric Gustavson’s Spendthrift Farm, Further Ado validated the 20-length maiden demolition he delivered 50 days earlier at Keeneland. On Saturday, he handled the 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.33 under Irad Ortiz Jr. as temperatures dipped into the 30s on the annual “Stars of Tomorrow II” program for 2-year-olds.
“This was a really good test for him,” said Cox, who also won the 2022 Kentucky Jockey Club with Instant Coffee. “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.”
Cox’s milestone made him just the 10th trainer in Churchill Downs history to reach 500 wins. Earlier on the card, veteran trainer Greg Foley also hit the mark when his 2-year-old filly No Time Left captured the third race.
Further Ado collected the $242,470 winner’s share and earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. As a Prep Season race, points were awarded to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Breaking from post 6, Further Ado settled comfortably in fourth as Dr. Kapur set the tempo through splits of :23.35, :46.76 and 1:10.84. Soldier N Diplomat tracked in second, followed by Southern California shipper Cherokee Nation, who had checked into the first turn while vying for position. Behind them came Further Ado, then a gap back to Spice Runner, with Universe and Very Connected trailing the field.
Approaching the far turn, Further Ado advanced into third as Soldier N Diplomat took over from Dr. Kapur at the top of the stretch. Soldier N Diplomat and Further Ado battled stride-for-stride until the favorite finally asserted himself inside the final sixteenth. Universe, rallying strongly along the rail, closed for second, finishing a half-length in front of Soldier N Diplomat.
“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 returned $3.42, $2.56 and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite. Universe paid $5.48 and $3.36 at 12-1, while Soldier N Diplomat, 7-1, paid $2.92 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
Another 1 ¼ lengths back came Very Connected in fourth, followed by Cherokee Nation, Dr. Kapur and Spice Runner.
The win improved Further Ado’s record to two victories from four starts, with additional third- and fifth-place finishes in sprint races. His career earnings now stand at $320,703.
The win capped a huge afternoon for Ortiz Jr. and Cox, who teamed up for four victories on the card thanks to Sticker Shock, Kentucky Belle, and On Time Girl—winner of the $225,000 Fern Creek. Ortiz Jr. now leads all riders with 26 juvenile wins at the meet, while Cox also tops the trainer standings with 20 wins from 2-year-olds.
Cox now joins an elite roster of Churchill Downs trainers with 500 victories:
- Steve Asmussen (992)
- Dale Romans (827)
- Bill Mott (795)
- Kenny McPeek (593)
- Tom Amoss (585)
- Mike Maker (564)
- Wayne Lukas (562)
- Brad Cox (500)
- Bernie Flint (500)
- Greg Foley (500)
Further Ado is a Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer, bred by John C. Oxley.
The Kentucky Jockey Club honors the holding company that operated Churchill Downs when the race was inaugurated in 1920. In recent decades, it has produced Kentucky Derby winners such as WinStar Farm’s Super Saver—who swept both races in 2009–10 for Todd Pletcher—and Real Quiet, runner-up in the 1997 edition before capturing the Derby the following spring.
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