By J.N. Campbell
As a 9-year-old, Khaadem has won his share of some top flight races in England for Mrs. Fitriani Hay over the course of his illustrious career, which has netted the gelding nearly $2.5-million in earnings. On Saturday in the Woodford Stakes, the venerable Thoroughbred once again got his picture taken with a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Keeneland.
Trained by Charlie Hills, Khaadem highlights include during his 6-year-old season scores in the G3 Betfair Palace House Stakes at Newmarket that April and in the G2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood in late July. The pièce de résistance for the turf sprint specialist came when he won consecutive editions of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes during the Royal Meeting at Ascot in 2023 and 2024. More recently, the dark bay came back to the U.S. at the end of August for the second year in a row to contest the GII Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint at a Kentucky Downs–the result was a third-place finish.
Tabbed as a 3-1 shot here, Khaadem did not do himself any favors at the break when he blew the start, which put him last up the backstretch. As 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, Doncho (Mo Town) continued to make the pace through the far turn, Frankie Dettori's mount began to tip to the outside for a run down the center of the course. Firing on all cylinders and looking every bit a pro who has fought many a sprint battle on the grass heading for home, Khaadem's late move won the day and earned him a trip to the new stakes winner's circle at Keeneland. Arthur Hancock III's homebred Script was the runner-up.
“He's [Khaadem] been training here since [finishing third in the Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint-G2 at] Kentucky Downs a month ago, so he is into a nice routine,” said trainer Charlie Hills. “I was a little bit worried about how quiet he was, to be honest with you. He's 9-years-old, he's won some fantastic races in his career and I just think he likes being out here.
“He's just gotten used to the different way of training,” he said. “I think it's just sparked him up. Ed Vaughan–we go back a long way–he and I looked after him the last few weeks and he did a fantastic job. He's got his old spark back, so hopefully we might look at the Breeders' Cup in a few weeks' time.”
Pedigree Notes:
Dark Angel (Ire) (by Acclamation {GB}) needs no introduction internationally as an acclaimed sire. Of course, the stateside graded runners he claims includes the likes of Raging Bull (Fr), Althiqa, Hunt and Heredia.
The dam of 11 foals, six to race and four winners, White Daffodil is responsible for Khadeem's older full-brother Long Out Island (Ire), who placed in three English group races during his career. The winner's dam is also produced a current yearling filly by Supremacy (Ire) and a filly by Chaldean (GB) who is now a weanling. She was not reported as bred for next spring.
Watch the full replay as KHAADEM (IRE) surges from the back of the pack to win the Woodford (G2) presented by @FanDuelTV! pic.twitter.com/rNSfPg9vwP
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 4, 2025
Saturday, Keeneland
WOODFORD S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GII, $339,075, Keeneland, 10-4, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.18, fm.
1–KHAADEM (IRE), 121, g, 9, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB)
(750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Hills; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $179,025. Lifetime Record: 42-10-3-5, $2,615,444. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Script, 121, g, 6, Algorithms–Dilly, by First Samurai. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Stone Farm (KY); T-George R. Arnold II. $77,000.
3–Joe Shiesty, 121, g, 4, Air Force Blue–Ready to Unleash, by More Than Ready. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($16,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN). O-Foster Family Racing, Reynolds, Lonnie, Mills, Vicki and Coomes, Donald; B-Rodney E. Orr (KY); T-Eric N. Foster. $38,500.
Margins: NK, HD, NK. Odds: 3.27, 22.01, 5.91.
Also Ran: Governor Sam, Arrest Me Red, Outlaw Kid, Doncho, Charcoal. Scratched: World Record.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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