Call it a successful opening day at Keeneland for Brad Cox — the trainer won the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) with Immersive and the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) with Federal Judge.
The victories on Friday gave one of the nation’s top conditioners a pair of fees-paid automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar next month.
May Day Ready with Frankie Dettori up wins the 2024 Jessamine for trainer Joseph Lee and owner Lawrence Doyle, 2024 Keeneland Fall Meet
May Day Ready Improves to 3-0 with Jessamine Win
Immersive, the favorite in a field of six, stalked the leaders and took control in the stretch for a 1 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Darley Alcibiades and is headed to the BC Juvenile Fillies (G2).
Earlier on the card, it was Federal Judge going gate-to-wire for a 5 ¼-length win over favorite Nakatomi in the Phoenix for a spot in the BC Sprint (G2).
In a third “Win and You’re In’’ race, Frankie Dettori and May Day Ready nosed out Totally Justified in a three-horse photo finish in the $350,000 Jessamine Stakes (G2) for a berth in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
A look at the races:
Darley Alcibiades: Immersive moves to 3-for-3
The Godolphin owned 2-year-old Nyquist filly is 3-0, with two Grade 1 wins on her resume.
Immersive with Manny Franco up wins the 2024 Darley Alcibiades for trainer Brad Cox and owner Godolphin, 2024 Keeneland Fall Meet
Immersive stalked leaders Rich City Girl and Liam in the Dust through three-quarters of a mile, took the lead in the stretch and beat Quickick by 1 1/4 lengths.
Winning time was 1:44.64 over a fast track. Immersive returned $5.34 on a $2 win bet.
“We wanted to go farther with her since she won first time out, and today she proved that she wanted to go the distance,’’ said winning jockey Manny Franco, who was aboard for the filly’s win in the 7-furlong Spinaway Stakes (G1).
“She’s a grinder and today she broke running. That was the plan: to break running and go forward. She was traveling so comfortable. I was pleased with what I had under me. It was a matter of time. At the quarter pole I asked her for more, and she took a little bit to get going, but she got it done.”
Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes: Here comes the (Federal) Judge
Federal Judge took charge from the starts and then turned on the jets in the stretch for a commanding 5½-length victory over favorite Nakatomi. The winning margin was the largest since 1995.
Flavien Prat was aboard for the ride, with the 4-year-old gelding covering 6 furlongs in 1:08.20, the fastest time for the race since 2000.
Federal Judge with Flavien Prat up wins the 2024 SKO Phoenix for trainer Brad Cox and owner Winstar Farm, 2024 Keeneland Fall Meet
Federal Judge, a winner in four of six starts, returned $5.48.
“Yeah, he made it look simple. He broke very well today. I was a bit worried with (breaking from) the one (post), but he broke sharp and got himself into the race and did the rest,’’ Prat said. “I thought he was going a good clip, but he was comfortable and he was at ease.”
Nakatomi also is Breeders’ Cup bound after his first loss.
“Speed was tough today. Sets us up well for the Breeders’ Cup,’’ trainer Wesley Ward said. “Sometimes you run two big races on top of the Breeders’ Cup, and it will draw you back but maybe we’ll turn a negative into a positive.”
Jessamine: May Day Ready wins in three-horse photo
May Day Ready ($10.80) split horses in midstretch and put a nose in front at the final jump to edge Totally Justified, with favorite Destino d’Oro another nose back in third.
Trained by Joe Lee and ridden by Frankie Dettori, May Day Ready covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.10 over a firm turf course. The victory was Lee’s first at Keeneland.
May Day Ready, a 2-year-old Tapit filly, is now 3-0, with previous wins in her career debut and the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies.
“She was superb, and Joe has done a tremendous job. She’s a very talented filly,’’ Dettori said. “She had to do it the hard way; she got a bit restless in the gate and a bit keen in the first turn. I had to go the ‘brave man route’; the gaps were a lot smaller than I anticipated, but she skipped through it. To honest with you, I thought Flavien (Prat on Destino d’Oro) beat me on the line, so I was a little bit frustrated, but it all came out. I’m super delighted.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
