First Resort found Churchill Downs to his liking, took charge entering the stretch and won the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on Saturday.
Ridden by Luis Saez, the 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt drove clear through the stretch and topped rallying favorite Jonathan’s Way by 2 ¼ lengths.
The race is a points qualifier for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1), with First Resort picking up 10 points, and Jonathan’s Way earning five points. The next three finishers, Tiztastic, Dapper Moon, and Render Judgment picked up 5-3-1 points, respectively.
Trained by Eoin Harty, First Resort was sent off at 6-1 and returned $14.66 on a $2 win bet. Owned by Godolphin, First Resort is 2-for-4, having won in his debut at Ellis Park, running second in Saratoga Special (G2), and fourth in the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine.
Winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.01.
“We were in a perfect spot early in the race,” Saez said. “Turning for home I could feel I had a lot of horse beneath me. He really took off down the lane and I could tell the further this horse goes it will be better.”
Good Cheer remains unbeaten with Golden Rod win
Unbeaten Good Cheer, the 3-5 favorite, lived up to her billing with a 2½-length victory over Quietside in the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2).
The 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod is a road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifier awarded points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the first five finishers. Edatant was third, with Sturgeon Moon fourth, and Flash Wave fifth in the field of seven 2-year-old fillies.
Good Cheer ($3.32), ridden by Luis Saez, is trained by Brad Cox for Godolphin, giving Dubai-based owners a sweep of Saturday’s graded stakes. The Medaglia d’Oro filly improved to 4-for-4.
“Her record really speaks for itself and the style in which she’s won all of those races has been very impressive,” Cox said. “She is another testament to Godolphin’s program. She’s handled everything we’ve done with her, so far, extremely well and I think we haven’t seen her best yet.”