Further Ado has done it again, and while his performance Saturday lacked the air of spectacle radiating from the colt’s 20-length Keeneland maiden win last month, his victory Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes carried far more significance.
Further Ado validated his dazzling third-out score in his route debut, and where the colt raced solo through the homestretch last time, he received a stiff stretch challenge Saturday from Soldier N Diplomat. Further Ado was up for the fight. Finally pushing to the front in the final half-furlong, Further Ado drew quickly clear of a spent Soldier N Diplomat, passed late for second by solidly closing Universe, who galloped out well in front.
Further Ado sprinted twice at Saratoga and on Saturday made his first start at Churchill. He gives trainer Brad Cox a colt who appears, heading into a winter respite, like a legitimate Kentucky Derby hope.
“Obviously if you’re trying to get to the [Kentucky] Derby, it’s important to perform well at Churchill. We’re excited about him, how he can handle the two-turn distance and more,” Cox said.
Cox has other talented 2-year-olds, but Further Ado’s owner, Spendthrift Farm, holds an even stronger position. They also campaign Ted Noffey, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a surefire Eclipse Award winner.
Universe, a Kenny McPeek-trained Global Campaign colt, improved markedly upon his most recent start, a second in the Street Sense last month at Churchill. Soldier N Diplomat, reluctant to settle in the early stages, chased pacesetting Dr. Kapur through quick fractions of 23.35 and 46.76, eventually coming back to jockey Jose Ortiz. He cruised past Dr. Kapur before the quarter pole, braced for Further Ado’s challenge and met it with valor before giving way late, at least in part a victim of the fast half-mile split.
Soldier N Diplomat had almost two lengths on fourth-place Very Connected, another McPeek horse, with the Bob Baffert-trained Cherokee Nation fifth. Flavien Prat on Cherokee Nation made a bid for the early lead, failed to get it, and wound up in tight quarters into the first turn, Cherokee Nation briefly losing his action. Dr. Kapur and Spice runner rounded out the finish.
Further Ado ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.33. Heavily favored from the start of betting, Further Ado paid $3.42.
The KJC is part of Churchill Downs’ Road to the Kentucky Derby and the first five finishers earned, respectively, 10, 5, 3, 2, and 1 qualifying points toward the Derby.
Bred in Kentucky by John Oxley, Further Ado is by Gun Runner out of Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa, and Cox speaks glowingly of the colt’s stamina. Further Ado finishes all his workouts like he’s looking for more, and Cox in a post-race interview suggested a two-race Derby prep campaign next winter and spring. If those two races advance the project Further Ado began with his last two races this year – watch out.
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