Frankie Dettori came into the Kentucky Downs meet that began Thursday on a downward trajectory.
From the start of the year through Aug. 27, Dettori had booted home 24 winners and earned about $3.5 million in purse money. Three days later, the famed jockey known for his flying dismount, is flying again. He won one Kentucky Downs race Thursday, took down the $3.5 million Nashville Derby on Saturday, and on Sunday notched his fourth winner from the card’s first nine races when he piloted Johnny’s Red Storm to a front-running victory in the $946,000 Juvenile Sprint.
After the Juvenile Sprint, Dettori had six wins from 18 rides at this meet, purse earnings of $2.5 million. And unlike Saturday, when Wimbledon Hawkeye, because he wasn’t bred in Kentucky, didn’t qualify for $1.5 million of the total purse, Kentucky-bred Johnny’s Red Storm picked up the entirety of another big payday.
Johnny’s Red Storm won his debut, a turf sprint, in a Saratoga maiden race restricted to horses that had sold for $60,000 or less at auction or failed to meet a reserve of the same price. His trainer, George Weaver, believed he was sending a horse plenty capable of handling open maidens into battle. Weaver was right – and then some.
Johnny’s Red Storm ran in the Juvenile Sprint like he did in his first start, using excellent gate speed to make the lead while racing in hand, responsive to his jockey. And despite showing so much pace, Johnny’s Red Storm, as he did first out when facing lesser foes, displayed an effective turn of foot in the homestretch, opening daylight on his way to a decisive two-length win over Obliteration.
Obliteration, making his turf debut, tracked the pace and finished willingly, coming home 1 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place Azizam. Another Weaver trainee, Azizam made his first start since being imported from England early this month. He loomed boldly approaching the furlong grounds, but could not sustain his bid.
Favored, Johnny’s Red Storm paid $5.74 to win. His time was recorded as 1:14.83 for 6 1/2 furlongs over a firm course, but Kentucky Downs, all three days this meet, has struggled with timing, with track record after track record supposedly falling. The official race chart for the Nashville Derby initially had no time posted; an update included a final time clocked on “video review” but no fractions.
Regardless, Johnny’s Red Storm proved plenty fast Sunday. Johnny’s Red Storm is out of the Into Mischief mare Estoril and by Twirling Candy, an excellent sire who stands for a published $60,000 fee, yet Weaver signed the ticket for the colt at Keeneland’s September yearling sale paying just $60,000. Johnny’s Red Storm campaigns for John Cronin Jr. and Rick Pitino’s RAP Racing and was bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables.
Weaver, unsure whether Johnny’s Red Storm would make an early lead, said earlier this week he’d leave tactics in Dettori’s hands. Those hands were red hot Sunday, and they guided Johnny’s Red Storm to an impressive victory.
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