Churchill Downs will host the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Saturday, featuring Spendthrift Farms’ Further Ado (Gun Runner), who enters the race following a stunning 20-length maiden victory at Keeneland that earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.
The impressive figure ranks tied for second-fastest by any 2-year-old in 2023, earning the colt TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard status.
Despite his recent dominance, Further Ado remains something of an enigma after disappointing performances in his first two starts. Saturday’s stakes debut should provide clarity about his true potential.
“We liked him a good bit, especially first time out,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I thought he was a horse that could win first time based on how he trained at Keeneland, Churchill and even Saratoga leading up to that debut. He’s always been a really good training horse. We did lose a little bit of confidence along the way when we didn’t get the performances we were expecting in the first two runs.”
Further Ado debuted July 26 at Saratoga, finishing fifth in a six-furlong maiden. He returned August 30 at Saratoga in a seven-furlong maiden, running a distant third.
Distance appears to be the key factor in his dramatic improvement. Cox stretched him out to 1 1/16 miles for his third start, resulting in one of the standout juvenile performances of the season.
“I think he just didn’t handle the distance in those first two starts,” Cox said. “Getting him out around two turns seemed to make the difference. We liked him a good bit in all three starts. He was able to put it all together going long that day at Keeneland. No, I never thought he’d win by 20 lengths.”
Cox described watching the breakthrough performance: “Watching the race that day at Keeneland, I thought, ‘Wow he’s really moving well and they were going quick enough up front.’ It didn’t seem like anyone was closing in on him going into the far turn. It looked like he had the horse in front of him measured and he just kept extending the margin. It was a very impressive win, to say the least.”
The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes represents a significant class test against accomplished juveniles.
“He will need to step up and improve,” Cox acknowledged. “As long as he can get away well, get into the race and get into his rhythm, I think he will run well. He’s been training at Churchill ever since that win at Keeneland and he trained this morning [on Nov. 23] and it was very impressive. Breaking well, getting involved early and getting into that rhythm are the things he’ll need to do to be successful Saturday.”
A victory would likely establish Further Ado as a top Kentucky Derby prospect for 2024. Cox plans to winter the colt at Payson Park in Florida, though his prep race schedule remains undetermined.
“The Florida preps will at least be on our list, but you have to remember that they’ll have another very nice colt down there in Ted Noffey,” Cox noted, referring to Spendthrift’s current Derby favorite by Into Mischief. “That’s going to play a role in what we do, and it should. We’ll see how we do on Saturday and then start thinking more about our plans.”
The likely scenario would see Further Ado targeting Fair Grounds preps to avoid stablemate conflicts.
Key competition includes Saffie Joseph-trained Dr. Kapur (McKinzie), stretching out after an impressive Keeneland maiden win. Bob Baffert sends out $1.15-million Keeneland September purchase Cherokee Nation (Not This Time), while three-time race winner Steve Asmussen will saddle GIII Iroquois S. winner Spice Runner (Gun Runner).
Saturday’s Churchill card also features the GII Golden Rod Stakes for juvenile fillies, with Baffert’s Explora (Blame) installed as the heavy favorite following her second-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Cox will counter with Rags to Riches S. winner Life of Joy (Gun Runner).
“We really like her,” Cox said. “She broke her maiden in Indiana and it was a really big step up going from that race to the stakes at Churchill. That race [the Rags to Riches] came up with somewhat of a short field and she got a really good trip. There are a few more fillies in this race and it’s a deeper group. She has to step up again. She’s another one that had a really good breeze this morning [Nov. 24] over this track. She is training well and is training forward since that last run. We’ve seen positive things from her since that last run.”
