Rhetorical proves to be a ‘weapon’

Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Grade 1)

RHETORICAL showed four European-breds and four American-breds exactly what American speed looks like on American turf, doling out early fractions and exerting a late kick to dominate the nine-furlong Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic in the race before the Derby.

Owned by Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable, the gelded son of Not This Time drew away to win by three and a quarter lengths, notching his sixth win in his nine starts for trainer Will Walden and his jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

“He’s got an electric turn of foot,” Walden said. “He can be up there winging dinging on the front end and still plant his foot in the ground and kick home. Very easy horse to train. Just a weapon.”

Walden’s father, Elliott, sent Rhetorical to his son as a project back in 2024. Then owned by Siena Farm and WinStar Farm, he had come home twice before that, this time the $320,000 yearling stayed the course, eclipsing the $1 million mark on Saturday.

Elvis is back in the building!

Churchill Downs Stakes (Grade 1)

WHILE Danon Bourbon and Wonder Dean represented Japan well in the Derby, finishing fifth and eighth respectively, the international powerhouse captured the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes with T O Elvis.

The Kentucky-bred son of Volatile rallied from sixth to take the seven-furlong sprint stakes for trainer Daisuke Takayanagi, owner Tomoya Ozasa and jockey Ryusei Sakia. The four-year-old colt notched his fifth consecutive win with a three-and-a-quarter-length win over Disruptor and Crazy Mason and showed that the Japanese can be a force at America’s game, sprinting on the dirt. Favourite Knightsbridge faded to sixth.

“This is a first winner for Japan here,” Takayanagi said. “It was a very challenging race, but we were able to get it done. We had a plan for this race, even though we did not get to run in Dubai.”

T O Elvis withdrew from the Golden Shaheen in Dubai because of the global unrest in the region.

American Turf Stakes (Grade 1)

MICHAEL McCarthy produced a stakes double on the Derby undercard. The California-based trainer produced Stark Contrast to win the Grade 1 American Turf and Yellow Card to win the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint. Flavien Prat partnered both winners.

Stark Contrast finished second in the Jeff Ruby over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park in March. McCarthy avoided Derby fever and aimed at the three-year-old turf stakes on the Derby undercard. Sent off favourite, the son of Caravaggio rolled from the back to win by two and a quarter lengths for owner/breeder Amerman Racing.

“I can’t tell you how highly I thought about this horse,” McCarthy said. “He got a little sick on us over the winter. We were able to reroute and go to the Jeff Ruby. Flavien speaks for himself, and he gave him a great trip.”

Owned by James Daniell, Yellow Card stalked and pounced to win the Turf Sprint by a neck. The son of Lost Treasure improved his record to five wins from 14 starts.

Baffert victory

Bob Baffert got shut out in the Derby, but loomed large in the Preakness after Crude Velocity dominated 10 rivals in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile. The son of Beau Liam kept tabs on pacesetter Englishman before rolling to a three-and-a-quarter-length win in the mile stakes. Owned by CSLR Racing Partners, the bay colt pushed his record to three wins from three starts for jockey Florent Geroux.

“He was a lot more professional today and put me in the right spot,” Geroux said. “Since the blinkers have been removed, he’s been a dream to ride. He’s able to follow very fast fractions easily and I attacked Englishman at the quarter-pole and responded well.

“He’s an amazing horse. He’s not very big and I have worked in the mornings and I told Bob, it was the best three-year-old in his barn. I wish we had more time to develop, and I think he would have been in the Derby today.”

First Grade 1

R Disaster picked up her first Grade 1 stakes score in the Derby City Distaff for trainer Saffie Joseph and owners Averill Racing and ATM Racing. The Florida-bred daughter of Awesome Slew has now won nine of 16.

Classic Q used her speed to win the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile for trainer Mark Casse and owners Gary Barber, Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. The $40,000 yearling purchase earned her first graded stakes win.

Whit Beckman enjoyed a big day, finishing third in the Derby with maiden Ocelli and taking the Knicks Go with Tour Player for the Graham Grace Stable.

A $350,000 purchase in Fasig-Tipton’s Digital Sale in December, the son of American Pharoah scored for the sixth time and for his fourth trainer.