Christmas got here early for Godolphin, or at the very least that is what the snowfall made it really feel like because the royal blue silks entered the winner’s circle in each of the Nov. 30 featured 2-year-old stakes races at Churchill Downs.
First Resort was the winner of the Grade 2 $381,250 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes in a prep race on the Street to the 2025 Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve nearly an hour after the identical homeowners had received the day’s 2025 Longines Kentucky Oaks prep race within the $400,000 Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes with the filly Good Cheer. First Resort and Good Cheer earned 10 qualifying factors for his or her respective races.
“We’re blessed to have such a robust group of 2-year-olds, each fillies and colts,” stated Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan. “We really feel so excited to have them go ahead.”
A son of Uncle Mo, First Resort confirmed promise early in his profession with a 3 1/2-length maiden victory at Ellis Park in July going 5 1/2 furlongs and a runner-up efficiency within the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Saratoga Particular Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 10.
Initially entered for the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14, First Resort was scratched after drawing the rail.
“I used to be attempting to get him to learn to calm down and charge,” coach Eoin Harty stated. “Popping out of the one gap, there’s just one technique to go. I did not wish to have him sit behind a wall of horses.”
Despatched to Woodbine that day as an alternative, First Resort was entered on the turf within the one-mile Grade 1 bet365 Summer time Stakes on the grass, which Banahan referred to as an “experiment” to see if he may stretch out. He completed fourth, however connections had been happy sufficient to focus on the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Membership for his subsequent race.
“He shipped quite a bit so we wished to take a while off and level to this race,” Banahan stated. “We’re tremendous excited to have one other horse we will add on to our good group of 2-year-old colts.”
First Resort relaxed and rated to perfection Saturday as jockey Luis Saez settled him simply off Dapper Moon ‘s gentle fractions of :24.56, :49.30, and 1:13.63.
“We knew we wished a gradual tempo, however we managed the race,” Saez stated. “On the high of the stretch, we had loads of horse.”
Taking command coming into the stretch, First Resort drew off to an insurmountable lead approaching the ultimate furlong. Odds-on favourite Jonathan’s Approach, who bought caught in visitors on the far flip, made a late run however First Resort hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear whereas stopping the clock in 1:43.01. He paid $14.66 to win.
The remainder of the highest 5 finishers earned qualifying factors for the Might 3 Kentucky Derby on a 5-3-2-1 scale, with these factors being earned by Jonathan’s Approach, Tiztastic, Dapper Moon, and Render Judgment.
Jockey Luis Saez was additionally aboard Good Cheer, who improved her file to 4-for-4 together with her win within the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes.
Simply as she did within the Oct. 27 Rags to Riches Stakes, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro needed to overcome some bumping out of the gate and gradual fractions to emerge victorious.
“Any time you may have a filly that does not have an amazing quantity of early pace, tempo is regarding,” stated coach Brad Cox. “I did not really feel like there was an amazing quantity of tempo on early, however she overcame it and he or she’s that good.”
Good Cheer took the lead from stablemate Eclatant on the quarter pole and by no means appeared at risk by means of the stretch regardless of a late try from Quietside to chop into the margin. Good Cheer hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths away from Quietside. Eclatant was third. Sturgeon Moon and Flash Put on rounded out the highest 5 for Kentucky Oaks qualifying factors, which had been awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Good Cheer paid $3.32 to win and accomplished the 1 1/16 miles, a distance at which she is now 3-for-3 whereas competing at Churchill Downs, in 1:43.26.
“She loves it right here (Churchill Downs), that is a constructive transferring ahead,” Cox stated. “She’s in a position to flip for dwelling with horse, put the competitors away and gallop out effectively. She’s an excellent filly.”
Good Cheer and certain champion 2-year-old filly Immersive have now swept 4 of the seven Kentucky Oaks preps contested this yr for Cox and Godolphin.
“To have two very nice fillies going ahead in 2025, it’s exceptionally fortunate for us to have the ability to do this,” Banahan stated.
