In his United States debut, Haatem, a multiple group stakes winner in England, secured the most lucrative victory of his career Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs when he held off a late charge from two-time grade 2 winner Lagynos to win the Mint Millions Invitational Stakes (G3T) by a neck.
As an Irish-bred, Haatem missed out on a good chunk of the $2 million in available money for Kentucky-breds in Monday's race, but the $573,500 earned is still the most for the 5-year-old son of Phoenix of Spain.
Haatem has won at least one stakes in each of his three seasons of racing. Besides winning last year's Vintage Stakes (G2), Wathnan Racing's Haatem has also won a pair of group 3 tests and has placed in classics in England and Ireland.
"He's a bit of a legend," said Wathnan's racing manager Case Clay. "He's won at Royal Ascot twice; hasn't been doing as well the last couple of races, but there's been excuses for that, and the thought here was maybe he'd like Kentucky Downs."
Trained by Richard Hannon Jr., he was guided to victory Monday by Jamie Spencer, who also won this race in 2023 on Ancient Rome.
"Jamie rode him great," Clay added. "Put him forward—didn't break the best, but the plan was to put him forward, not on the lead, but as forward as possible. And he crossed the wire with his ears pricked."
Video: Mint Millions Invitational S. (G3T)
Earlier on the Card
- Kentucky-bred Citrus Springs rewarded her connections for traveling across the Atlantic Ocean for her stakes debut as she pressed the pace early and then edged Up Before the Dawn to win the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes. In winning the mile test under Ben Curtis for trainer Joseph O'Brien, International Equities Holding's Citrus Springs became the first stakes winner for freshman sire Olympiad . The son of Speightstown stood the 2026 season for $20,000 at Gainesway near Lexington.
- After earning four stakes placings this season, Florida-bred Laigina captured the non-listed Lucky Lantern Stakes Monday when she rallied from ninth to capture the 6 1/2-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies who had not won a stakes. Winning connections included jockey Keith Asmussen, co-owner and trainer Patrick Biancone, and co-owner Green with MV Stable.
- Two-time grade 2 winner Bottas secured the most lucrative win of his career Monday when he rallied from 10th to win the $1,748,056 Gun Runner Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths—earning $994,263. Entered off a victory in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course, Bottas was guided to victory by Jose Ortiz. He is trained by Miguel Clement for owner Dahman.
Video: Pepsi Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies S. (BT)
Video: Lucky Lantern S. (BT)
Video: KTDF Gun Runner S. (BT)
