Final Score leads all the way to win Castle & Key Bourbon and Schwarzenegger takes Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select

Calumet Farm’s homebred Gin Gin went right to the front and then held off Nitrogen by a head to win the 70th running of the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares on Sunday afternoon at Keeneland as reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna finished fourth.

With the victory, Gin Gin earned a fees-paid berth into the starting gate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Also posting stakes victories Sunday afternoon were Repole Stable’s Final Score in the 35th running of the $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) for 2-year-olds and Mrs. John Magnier, Mountmellick Farm, Brook Smith and Resolution Road Stables’ Schwarzenegger in the eighth running of the $300,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select.

Winner of the Baird Doubledogdare (G3) during the Spring Meet in her lone previous Keeneland start, Gin Gin led the field of five through fractions of :23.74 and :46.69 with Thorpedo Anna just to her outside.

Heading into the far turn, Nitrogen ranged up three wide to move into second as Thorpedo Anna began to retreat. Gin Gin maintained her advantage into the stretch running next to the rail and had enough to hold off a final bid from Nitrogen.

Trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Luis Saez, Gin Gin completed the mile and an eighth on the fast main track in 1:49.77. It is the second Juddmonte Spinster victory for Saez, who took the race in 2020 with Valiance.

Gin Gin is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Hightail out of the Hard Spun mare Before You Know. She owns a career mark of 13-4-3-2 with earnings of $942,796.

Gin Gin returned $38.64 and $9.36. Nitrogen, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $4.28 to place with no show wagering.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Scylla in third and another 7¼ lengths back to Thorpedo Anna in fourth with Chilled finishing fifth.

Final Score gives Pletcher sixth Castle & Key Bourbon victory

Final Score, who dueled through a pressured pace, held off all pursuers in the stretch to post a 1¼-length victory in the Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) for 2-year-olds and earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Final Score covered the mile and a sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:42.51. The victory was the sixth for Pletcher in the race following Mutasaabeq (2020), Current (2018), Interactif (2009), Bittel Road (2008) and Twilight Meteor (2006).

It was the third Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Fall Star Weekend victory for Pletcher, who saddled Tommy Jo to win Friday’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) and Ted Noffey for Saturday’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

Final Score dueled with Casa Cielo through fractions of :22.51, :47.69 and 1:12.89. On the far turn, a number of challengers closed in only to have Final Score find another gear to open a daylight advantage in the stretch with enough left to hold off Turf Star.

Final Score is a Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time out of the Bernardini mare Precious Dixie. A winner of three of four races, Final Score has earned $397,550.

Sent off as the favorite, Final Score returned $4.82, $3.52 and $3.18. Turf Star, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $8.98 and $7.36 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Gordon Pass, who paid $15.38 to show under Cristian Torres.

It was another head back to Dr. Agne, who was followed in order by Exonerate, Awesome Connection, J J Grey, Blinging It Back, Vintur, Repentless, Password and Casa Cielo.

Schwarzenegger leads all the way to win Indian Summer 
Presented by Keeneland Select

Favored Schwarzenegger muscled his way to the front out of the gate and never trailed in posting a half-length victory over Obliteration to win the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select for 2-year-olds.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by John Velazquez, Schwarzenegger completed the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in a stakes-record 1:02.28. It was the fourth stakes win of Fall Stars Weekend for Velazquez.

Schwarzenegger led the field through fractions of :21.17 and :44.05 while under token pressure from Zeus’s Echo. At the top of the stretch, Schwarzenegger increased his margin and had enough left to hold off Obliteration, who rallied up the inside.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Schwarzenegger is a Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Soothsaying. Now 1-for-2 in his career, Schwarzenegger has earned $199,025.

Schwarzenegger returned $6.64, $4.30 and $3.30. Obliteration, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $4.70 and $3.28 and finished a neck in front of Rogue Legend (GB), who paid $3.72 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another nose back to Bobrovsky with Trendsetter, Azizam (GB), Uncle Bucky and Zeus’s Echo following in order.

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Racing resumes Wednesday with an eight-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Keeneland will offer a Super Hi Five carryover of $50,245.