It wasn't quite the dominant margin she won her debut by, but Life of Joy still handled her step up to stakes company with aplomb, finishing well for a 2 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
The Rags to Riches was the co-feature on Churchill's opening day Stars of Tomorrow card, featuring exclusively 2-year-old racing. The Rags to Riches and the Grade 3, $200,000 Street Sense, won by Incredibolt later in the card, offered points toward the 2026 Kentucky Oaks and Derby, respectively, on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Trainer Brad Cox used the Rags to Riches as a coming-out party for eventual Kentucky Oaks winners Monomoy Girl (2018) and Good Cheer (2025). He sent out Life of Joy ($3.68), a Gun Runner filly, in this year's edition for owners Will Stroud, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, and For the People Racing Stable. The filly was coming off a 14 3/4-length debut win on Oct. 2 in Indiana that made her the favorite for her stakes debut.
“She showed a tremendous amount of talent there at Indiana and was an easy winner first out,” Cox said. “We shipped her back here immediately and just wanted to take our time with her. The work last week (four furlongs in :50.20) was a good move. [Her performance Sunday] backed up the way she was training the past couple weeks.”
The Grumpy Rabbit, third in the Grade 1 Alcibiades behind Breeders' Cup-bround Tommy Jo and Percy's Bar last out, set a tepid early pace on Sunday, getting the opening quarter in 25.15 seconds and the half in 49.86. Life of Joy, who sat a close third in the early going under Irad Ortiz Jr., moved up on the leader's hip around the far turn, and poked her head in front in the stretch. While the leader gave way grudgingly, Life of Joy kicked clear late. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Go to Girl in third.
The time for the 1 1/16 miles on the fast track was 1:45.76.
Later in the day, Incredibolt ($10.18) made a last-to-first move under Jaime Torres for the win in the Street Sense for trainer Riley Mott and Pin Oak Stud.
Incredibolt was last of seven after the opening half in an honest 48.83, with Ganaas leading Universe, and Vost trying to mount a challenge. Incredibolt began a sustained move and was still behind those three turning for home, but swung wide and came on inexorably. He pulled clear by 1 3/4 lengths at the wire, finishing in 1:44.67.
Universe held second by a clear 2 1/4 lengths over Very Connected, who had only Incredibolt beaten down the backstretch.
Incredibolt, by Bolt d'Oro, was fourth in his debut in August at Ellis Park before winning last month at Churchill Downs. It was then on to the Street Sense - won last year by this season's eventual Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.
“It’s his second time winning here at Churchill and we’re just delighted to have 10 points for the Kentucky Derby,” Michael Hardy, director of farm operations for Pin Oak Stud, said. “Hopefully he can follow the path Sovereignty did.”
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