Further Ado followed up a striking maiden victory at Keeneland last month by producing a 1 3/4-length score in the $400,000 Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Further Ado’s owners, Spendthrift Farm, already had one ace for the 2026 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve in presumptive champion 2-year-old Ted Noffey, who completed a 4-for-4 campaign this year when he took the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA at Del Mar.

Now it seems they have a pair of aces, with Further Ado adding to Spendthrift's enviable hand.

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Saturday's Kentucky Jockey Club win didn't come as easily as Further Ado's prior victory at Keeneland on Oct. 10 when he steamrolled the opposition by 20 lengths while racing up close throughout, but it nevertheless was promising. He defeated a talented field of 2-year-olds, doing so from a stalking position to reel in stretch leader Soldier N Diplomat, and he showed the ability to handle the surface at Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby will be contested on May 2 of next year.

"Obviously if you're trying to get to the Derby, it's important to perform well here at Churchill," trainer Brad Cox said.

Wide-racing Further Ado crossed the wire comfortably in front of late-charging Universe, who surged a half-length past fatigued show finisher Soldier N Diplomat trained by Steve Asmussen.

"He was able to show a different dimension today," jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. "I was able to let the speed go and sit a pretty good trip. He had to really dig in late to get to the wire first. I think this race will really benefit him down the road."

Further Ado was clocked in 1:43.33, the fastest of four races at 1 1/16 miles on dirt during an all-juvenile Saturday at Churchill Downs, though only marginally so. Splits in the race were :23.35, :46.76, and 1:10.84—set by Dr. Kapur, who would concede the lead to a pace-chasing Soldier N Diplomat leaving the second turn.

Though his final time was quick, Further Ado's final sixteenth of a mile in :06.78 was not. This relatively slow split left Universe advancing on him late, and Universe soared inside him on the gallop out. Universe raced wide into the second turn before drifting inward down the stretch.

"I think we need to get a little bit luckier with his trip," said Universe's trainer, Kenny McPeek.

Further Ado now has a record of 2-0-1 in four starts and his earnings stand at $320,703. He is perfect in two routes.

Very Connected, another McPeek trainee, finished fourth. Bob Baffert-trained Cherokee Nation, who was intimidated and shuffled back in a scramble to the first turn, ran fifth.

The Kentucky Jockey Club provided qualifying points toward next year's Kentucky Derby on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to its top five finishers. Churchill Downs uses qualifying points to promote the race and as a preference system when the Derby lures more than its capacity field size of 20 starters.

While Cox did not immediately specify which races he would target with Further Ado next year, he did mention that with the colt's 10 Derby points, a two-race campaign prior to the Derby is likely. Cox is expected to train Further Ado at Payson Park this winter. Though Cox stables at that South Florida training center, he has shown a willingness to send his top dirt horses to Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana or Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for stakes races. He also runs horses at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Ted Noffey is being aimed toward a Gulfstream Park campaign this winter and spring for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bella Ballerina Wins Golden Rod on the Road to Kentucky Oaks

Bella Ballerina is now officially on the trail to the 2026 Longines Kentucky Oaks with a victory Nov. 29 in the $397,375 Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Brendan Walsh with jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

Bella Ballerina. (Coady Media)

Bella Ballerina sat comfortably off fractions of :23.45, :46.31, and 1:11.19 set by runaway leader Letmecounttheways, who opened up on the field early. Bella Ballerina then took command with ease in the stretch and held off the late rallies of runner-up Atropa and Just Singing, who settled for third. She won by a half a length in a time of 1:43.50 and paid $10.28 to win.

Bella Ballerina's first graded score came in her first start around two turns. Exiting a 4 1/4-length debut win at Keeneland Oct. 5 at six furlongs, Walsh was confident that the filly could handle the added ground at second asking.

"She's got a pedigree to stay" Walsh said. "She should improve a lot and roll on next year."

With her victory, Bella Ballerina earned 10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks as the top five finishers received points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

"It's important to have a race over this racetrack if you think you have a filly good enough that you want to point toward the Oaks," Godolphin ownership spokesman Michael Banahan said. "Super impressive effort from the filly, and we can do a bit of dreaming here in the wintertime in the Oaks." -- Sean Collins