'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner), a jaw-dropping, 20-length maiden winner in his two-turn debut at Keeneland Oct. 10, took care of business with a 1 3/4-length victory as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs. Universe (Global Campaign) was second; Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) was third.
Placed in a tracking fourth by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. through solid fractions of :23.35 and :46.76, Further Ado made a three-wide bid approaching the quarter pole. The Spendthrift Farm colorbearer fought his way past a stubborn Solider N Diplomat in deep stretch and was never in any serious danger of the late rally by Universe to collect 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
“This was a really good test for him,” Louisville native Brad Cox said after saddling his milestone 500th win as a trainer at Churchill Downs. “He won very impressively last time. Today, he had to show a different dimension and really dig down late to get by. It's very important to get a horse like this started early on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully he can bring us right back here in the spring.”
Ortiz Jr. added, “He was able to show a different dimension today. 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 sprinted in his first two career starts at Saratoga, finishing fifth July 26 and third Aug. 30, respectively. He earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in his aforementioned runaway maiden victory in Lexington.
Pedigree Notes:
A $275,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Further Ado was hammered down to the Spendthrift braintrust for $550,000 after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 1/5 at this year's OBS April Sale.
Further Ado becomes the 50th stakes/33rd graded winner for leading young sire Gun Runner.
John Oxley campaigned Further Ado's third dam, Beautiful Pleasure–a full-sister to Grade I-winning turfer Mecke–to 10 career victories and an Eclipse Award in 1999 after taking out that year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Gulfstream Park.
Further Ado's graded stakes-placed dam Sky Dreamer (Sky Mesa), a half-sister to GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Dream Dancing (Tapit), had a colt by Justify in 2024 ($150,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Nuno Bloodstock) and a colt by Maxfield this year. She was bred back to Flameaway.
Further Ado picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at @ChurchillDowns! 🌟🏆@iradortiz was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and @spendthriftfarm!
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SDJKbZ5jiJ
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025
Saturday, Churchill Downs
KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB S.-GII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 11-29, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.33, ft.
1–FURTHER ADO, 122, c, 2, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Sky Dreamer (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $176,065),
by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: To Dream About, by Monarchos
3rd Dam: Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. 1ST BLACK TYPE
WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($275,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP;
$550,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-John C.
Oxley (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $242,470. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-0-1, $320,703. *1/2 to Kimbear (Temple City),
MGSW-UAE, GSP-USA, $807,269. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Universe, 122, c, 2, Global Campaign–Equalityforall,
by Quality Road. ($75,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-4 G Racing LLC,
Gregg Day, Steven Crain and Magdalena Racing; B-Becky
Pietras (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $78,700.
3–Soldier N Diplomat, 122, c, 2, Army Mule–Diplomatic Miss,
by Violence. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($950,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-St. Elias Stable; B-Machmer
Hall (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $39,350.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.71, 12.39, 7.37.
Also Ran: Very Connected, Cherokee Nation, Dr. Kapur, Spice Runner. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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