Spendthrift Farm’s Kentucky-bred Further Ado, who scored his maiden victory at Keeneland by 20 lengths last October, was the 4-5 favorite in the $1,250,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and won the race over six rivals by 11 lengths. The performance enhanced Further Ado’s credentials for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and gave trainer Brad Cox his third likely starter for the race, joining Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort.
With the Toyota Blue Grass victory, Further Ado earned 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard for a total of 135 points and guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) to be run on May 2. The top 20-point earners and invitees that pass the entry box April 25, will comprise the Derby field.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Further Ado completed the 1⅛ miles on a fast track in 1:49.58. It is the second Toyota Blue Grass victory for Cox, whose initial score came with champion Essential Quality in 2021.
Great White and Creole Chrome alternated on the lead through fractions of :23.60 and :47.71 with Talkin third on the inside and Further Ado tracking fourth while racing in the clear. Approaching the far turn, Ortiz moved Further Ado closer to the leaders and at the head of the stretch swept past Creole Chrome and the one-horse procession was on.
Further Ado had opened an 8½-length advantage at the eighth pole and cruised to the finish with the fourth-largest margin of victory in the race’s history. Ottinho rallied from far back to get second.
Further Ado has connections Derby Dreaming
A Keeneland sales graduate, Further Ado is a Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer. Now a two-time graded stakes winner, Further Ado improved his record to 6-3-1-1 and boosted his earnings to $1,146,328 with Saturday’s $755,625 check.
“What a huge blessing for our family and our team, a lot of whom were here,” said Eric Gustavson of Spendthrift Farm. “Thank you to Brad and to Irad and to Keeneland. We’re just so thankful. The first thing we wish is that the Derby was here at Keeneland, because obviously Further Ado’s got a fondness for this place. So, we’re thankful for that, and we’re just excited that he did it and he did it the way he did it. All things being equal and God willing, we’ll go to Churchill in a month and see what happens. Obviously, you’re taking all the best of the best a month from now, going up against them, but we’re among them now, and maybe we belong, it seems, where maybe there was a question mark there. But right now, we just want to celebrate this one. This is pretty sweet.”