After racing comfortably on the lead early, Rhetorical then delivered a strong late run to draw off to an easy victory in the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Oct. 3 at Keeneland Race Course, securing victory in the race for a second straight year. The Turf Mile was the last of five graded stakes races on the Lexington, Ky., track’s Fall Stars Saturday card and a “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF.

As easy as the 2 ¼-length victory looked to the eye, winning trainer Will Walden credited jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. with some quick thinking early to set up the victory. He noted that as brother Jose Ortiz challenged aboard Zulu Kingdom for the early lead after breaking well from the outside post in the field of eight, Irad Ortiz asked for just enough to maintain the lead.

Click to subscribe!

“Just hats off to Irad,” Walden said. “I mean, what a heads-up ride. As soon as Jose dropped down behind him, Irad was able to really control it from there … it just speaks to the elite talent and rider that Irad is.”

Irad Ortiz had just returned to riding Oct. 2 at Keeneland after missing nearly two months of racing while recovering from a foot injury.

“It doesn’t matter how many weeks you give him off, he’s the same guy the next day,” Walden said. “We’re just super happy to have him aboard.”

After that early move to maintain the advantage, Rhetorical, a New York-bred son of current 2026 leading sire Not This Time, fell into an easy rhythm before kicking it into gear late, completing the one-mile test in 1:36.35 on firm turf. Lake Forest, making his his North American debut with Cieren Fallon riding, rallied strongly to edge Title Role for second place. Brilliant Berti was fourth, and Zulu Kingdom tired late to finish fifth.

“Before the race, (Rhetorical) was settled down—so calm and relaxed,” Irad Ortiz said. “That saves a lot of energy for the race. I think that first fraction went a little slow. That helped him too. He’s a nice horse.”

After winning the Turf Mile last year, Rhetorical finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar after leading that race into the stretch. As Keeneland is hosting the Breeders’ Cup this year, Rhetorical will be able to train at Churchill Downs before making a short trip to Lexington.

“It’s great. He’ll go back to Churchill,” Walden said. “We’ll do our body of work there, most likely, then come up here the week of the Breeders’ Cup and try to get the job done.”

American History Rallies to Take Breeders’ Futurity

American History wins the Breeders' Futurity. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Talk about a great first week on the job.

Just two days after officially taking the reins from Elliott Walden as WinStar Farm CEO and president, Gerry Duffy was basking in the glory of a Grade 1 winner’s circle at Keeneland after American History proved to be a horse of the future with a victory Oct. 3 in the $648,125 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.

But, like any good boss, Duffy was quick to deflect credit to the team that Walden put in place rather than chalking it up to beginner’s luck.

“An incredible way to start, and I can take no credit for it,” Duffy said. “It’s the whole team, I just happened to show up and step in at the right time.”

One of those things that they hope will pass from Walden to Duffy is guiding a talented youngster to the spring classics. American History will give Duffy a chance after rallying through Keeneland’s homestretch to overtake dueling leaders Coach Pope and Q B Rocket in the final strides.

With his victory, American History, who is co-owned by First Go Racing and CHC and trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, gained 10 qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. He also earned an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Oct. 30 at Keeneland.

American History got crucial experience for the Breeders’ Cup by winning over 1 1/16 miles in Keeneland’s short stretch, and it took almost every inch to get there.

Highly regarded last-out maiden winners Q B Rocket and Coach Pope had their own private match race for most of the duration while American History broke tardily and was last through early. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez then got the son of Constitution into a rhythm and made up ground gradually behind solid fractions.

“Broke a little slower than I wanted him to, a little far back the first part of the race,” Velazquez said. “On the backstretch, he got into the bridle, and then I got into a nice cruising speed. I was very comfortable back there.”

Still, American History looked as though he may just be running for third as he turned for home several lengths behind the pacesetters. Yet, he continued to grind away and grind away for the last furlong before surging by for a one-length win. Coach Pope beat out Q B Rocket for second by a neck.

American History completed 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.88.

Prior to Saturday, the shining chestnut colt had a 6 ½-furlong debut victory under his belt, closing from just a few lengths back to win by 7 ¾ lengths at Saratoga. Gerry Duffy said the horse has been one on their radar throughout the summer.

“It’s a ‘Win And You’re In,’ it’s a perfect prep,” Duffy said. “We’ve got a real live shot coming into the Breeders’ Cup and lovely to have that win on the host track.”–Sean Collins

Evanescence Rallies Late to Win TCA Stakes

Evanescence gets her first stakes win. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The connections of Evanescence are not complaining about Keeneland hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this season.

Using a steady stretch rally under jockey Jose Ortiz to grind away the 2 ½-length lead of Praying, Evanescence posted a neck victory in the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on the Fall Stars Saturday card, securing the first graded stakes win of her career.

The victory saw Green Lantern Stables’ filly land her third win in as many starts at Keeneland. While the TCA is a Challenge Series: “Win and You’re In” race, awarding a fees-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Green Lantern’s Richard Masson said the owner would make a decision about running back in four weeks at a later time.

Masson noted that Evanescence’s love of Keeneland and good fit with Ortiz, who has three wins in as many starts on the filly, as well as the free entry, are factors in favor of starting.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Evanescence completed the 6 ½-furlong test in 1:16.57. Defending TCA winner Praying finished a neck back in second while it was 4 ¾ lengths back to third-place Eclatant.–Frank Angst