After winning a maiden route at Keeneland Oct. 10 by 20 lengths, Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado makes a highly anticipated stakes debut Nov. 29 against six juvenile rivals in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Among his challengers are Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Spice Runner; graded-placed Very Connected and Universe; Dr. Kapur, a fast maiden sprint winner; the twice-raced Bob Baffert-trained maiden Cherokee Nation, beaten a nose by eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Mr. A. P. in his last start at Santa Anita Park; and Soldier N Diplomat, victorious in two of three outings, including a maiden sprint race at Saratoga Race Course this summer in which he defeated Further Ado.
But the role of the favorite belongs to Further Ado, a flashy chestnut son of Gun Runner who dominated in graduating from the maiden ranks when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles last month at Keeneland. He sped the distance in 1:43.52, earning a 114 Equibase Speed Figure, a dirt figure matched this year among 2-year-olds only by Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey in capturing the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The latter, trained by Todd Pletcher, is unbeaten in four starts and near-certain to be the champion 2-year-old male of 2025.
Speaking of Further Ado, trainer Brad Cox said of the colt's maiden win, "He put it all together that day. The only thing that really changed was (running) two turns."
But quite a change it made from a fifth and third in two sprint efforts. His large margin of victory caught the eyes of racing fans and gamblers in the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager that closed before the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He went off as the 21-1 fourth individual betting choice behind Ted Noffey (10-1), Brant (14-1), and Blackout Time (20-1).
The Kentucky Jockey Club will award the top five finishers qualifying points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Cox, known for preferring spacing between starts with his horses, quickly dismissed quicker-turnaround options after Further Ado's victory at Keeneland.
"Listen, he's had three runs this year," the trainer said. "We want to get another good run out of him to finish the year off here Saturday. But we also are thinking about next year and having a horse around, and we don't want to overdo it—too much, too quick. So he's a young horse, still developing, but I think the talent's there."
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. returns in the irons from post 6.
Trainer Kenny McPeek, bidding for a fourth win in the Kentucky Jockey Club, starts both 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, Steven Crain, Magdalena Racing's Universe and Dream Big Racing's Very Connected—the 2-3 finishers from the Oct. 26 Street Sense Stakes (G3). The Street Sense winner, Incredibolt, has not breezed since the Street Sense and is not entered in the Kentucky Jockey Club.
The Street Sense came during the first of two "Stars of Tomorrow" cards exclusively for juveniles this fall at Churchill Downs. Saturday's 12-race card, which has three supporting stakes, is the second.
The Stars of Tomorrow program, inaugurated in 2005, has produced more than 50 grade 1 winners, including Kentucky Derby winners Sovereignty (2025), Mystik Dan (2024), Mandaloun (2021), and Super Saver (2010).
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen also runs a pair in the Kentucky Jockey Club in Soldier N Diplomat and Spice Runner. St. Elias Stable's Soldier N Diplomat romped in a mile allowance optional claiming race in his last start Oct. 26 at Churchill Downs, while Winchell Thoroughbreds' Spice Runner disappointed in finishing fifth behind Ted Noffey in the Oct. 4 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 29, 2025, Race 10Entries: Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Spice Runner (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Steven M. Asmussen - 2 Cherokee Nation (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Bob Baffert - 3 Dr. Kapur (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 4 Soldier N Diplomat (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Steven M. Asmussen - 5 Very Connected (KY) Emmanuel Esquivel 122 Kenneth G. McPeek - 6 Further Ado (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Brad H. Cox - 7 Universe (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 Kenneth G. McPeek -
