Praying and Khaadem (IRE) notch graded stakes victories

Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable’s Rhetorical rocketed past front-running Quatrocento at the eighth pole en route to a three-quarters of a length victory over Program Trading (GB) to win the 40th running of the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

The victory provided Rhetorical with a fees-paid berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Also earning tickets to Del Mar via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series were Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey, winner of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to be run Oct. 31, and Newtown Anner Stud’s Praying, winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1.

Others stakes winners on Keeneland’s Fall Stars Saturday were Colebrook Farms’ Simply in Front in the First Lady (G1) and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Khaadem (IRE) in the Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel.

In the Coolmore Turf Mile, Quatrocento cut out fractions of :22.40, :46.07 and 1:10.08 while being tracked by Howard Wolowitz and Epic Ride with Rhetorical racing in the clear behind the top trio.

At the head of the stretch Rhetorical made a three-wide move to challenge the leaders, hitting the front at midstretch and holding off Program Trading for his first graded stakes victory.

Trained by Will Walden and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Rhetorical completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:33.61. It is the second win in the race for Ortiz, who won the 2022 running on Annapolis.

Rhetorical is a 4-year-old gelded New York-bred son of Not This Time out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor. Now a winner of five of six races, Rhetorical has earned $824,700.

Rhetorical returned $21.18, $9.62 and $7.10. Program Trading, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $6.58 and $4.02 and finished a neck in front of Brilliant Berti, who paid $6.32 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another half-length back to Jonquil (GB), who was followed in order by favored Diego Velazquez (IRE), Quatrocento, Howard Wolowitz, Epic Ride, Mercante, Beach Gold and Woodshauna (FR).

Simply in Front splits horses in deep stretch to win First Lady

Far back at the top of the stretch, Simply in Front moved toward the inside and began splitting horses until she collared Choisya (GB) inside the sixteenth pole and held off Segesta by a neck to win the 28th running of the $800,000 First Lady.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Ben Curtis, Simply in Front completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:34.76.

Raqiya (IRE) set the pace with pressure to her outside from Jody’s Pride while Choisya enjoyed a rail run just in behind the top two. Turning for home, Frankie Dettori cut the corner on Choisya and quickly opened a daylight margin that lasted to deep stretch.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Simply in Front is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Summer Front out of the Blame mare Complicated. In winning for the sixth time in 16 starts, Simply in Front picked up her third graded stakes victory and improved her earnings to $2,868,611.

Simply in Front returned $28.24, $11.36 and $6.62. Segesta, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $7.20 and $5.04 and finished a neck in front of Choisya, who was ridden by Frankie Dettori and paid $4.96 to show.

It was another head back to Deep Satin with Pin Up Betty, Heredia (GB), favored Dynamic Pricing (IRE), Ozara (IRE), Jody’s Pride, Raqiya (IRE) and Nanda Dea (ARG) following in order.

Ted Noffey delivers as odds-on favorite in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

Heavily favored Ted Noffey swept past pace-setting Litmus Test at the top of the stretch and went on to a 2¾-length victory in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds to remain undefeated.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Ted Noffey completed the mile and a sixteenth on a fast main track in 1:43.98. It was the third victory of the afternoon for Pletcher and fourth of five for Velazquez.

The victory marked the third time Pletcher and Velazquez teamed up to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. They won in 2013 with We Miss Artie and in 2014 with Carpe Diem. Pletcher also saddled the winner in 2022 with Forte and 2023 with Locked.

Saturday marked the second time Velazquez has ridden five winners in one day during the Fall Meet, a feat he accomplished on Oct. 4, 2014, on seven mounts. He had eight mounts Saturday. In addition to Ted Noffey, he won the Thoroughbred Club of America on Praying. His other victories came on Outfielder in the third, Tenacious Leader in the fourth and Heartily in the 11th.

In the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Litmus Test led the field of six through fractions of :23.96 and :48.23 with Ted Noffey just to his outside off his flank. Ted Noffey ratcheted up the pressure on the turn, took command entering the stretch and easily held off Blackout Time for the victory.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Ted Noffey is a Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Old Fashioned mare Streak of Luck. Now a two-time Grade 1 winner, Ted Noffey has earned $617,963.

Ted Noffey returned $3.84, $2.62 and $2.10. Blackout Time, ridden by Cristian Torres, returned $2.80 and $2.24 and finished 2¼ lengths in front of Litmus Test, who paid $3.04 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another 6¾ lengths back to Diciassette, who was followed in order by Spice Runner and Big Dom.

Praying wins the Thoroughbred Club of America

Praying collared longtime leader Long Neck Paula at the eighth pole, assumed command at the sixteenth pole and then held off favored Vahva by a half-length to win the 45th running of the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).

Trained by Robbie Medina and ridden by John Velazquez, Praying completed the 6 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:10.49. It is Medina’s first Keeneland stakes victory. Velazquez earned his second win in the race following Judy the Beauty in 2013.

Long Neck Paula led the field of seven through fractions of :22.23 and :45.33 while Praying raced on the outside in a stalking position clear of traffic. In the stretch, Velazquez sent Praying three wide after the leaders and had clear running to the finish.

Praying is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Vekoma out of the Bernardini mare Pray for Leslie. Winner of the Prioress (G3) in her previous start, Praying boosted her bankroll to $466,040 with her third victory in nine starts.

Praying returned $21.74, $7.40 and $3.88. Vahva, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $3.64 and $2.34 with defending champion Zeitlos finishing third and paying $2.32 under Flavien Prat.

Vodka With a Twist was another nose back in fourth and followed in order by Long Neck Paula, Taxed and Halina’s Forte.

Khaadem (IRE) goes last to first to win Woodford Presented by FanDuel

In the 29th running of the Woodford, Khaadem surged from far back to post a neck victory over Script.

Khaadem totally missed the break and started last of eight as Doncho led the field through fractions of :21.95 and :44.81 while being tracked by favored Governor Sam.

Khaadem was still last at the top of the stretch while up front, Governor Sam was putting the pressure on Doncho and taking the lead at midstretch. 

However, the stretch runners were closing in with Khaadem finishing fastest of all to get the win with Script a head better than Joe Shiesty for second.

Trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Khaadem completed the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.18. It is the first Keeneland stakes win for Hills.

Khaadem is a 9-year-old son of Dark Angel out of the Footstepsinthesand mare White Daffodil. A two-time Group 1 winner in England, Khaadem increased his earnings to $2,615,444.

Khaadem returned $8.54, $5.32 and $3.58. Script, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $14.66 and $7 with Joe Shiesty paying $4.76 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

Governor Sam was another neck back in fourth and followed in order by Arrest Me Red, Outlaw Kid, Doncho and Charcoal.

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Racing continues Sunday afternoon with a 10-race program that features three stakes races headlined by the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) with reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

Keeneland will offer a Super Hi Five carryover of $12,990.