Tomoya Ozasa’s Kentucky-bred T O Elvis exploded from mid-pack to defeat a field of top sprinters with a 3 ¼-length victory over Disruptor in the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes (G1).
Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, T O Elvis completed the seven furlongs over a fast main track in a stakes-record 1:20.49. Macho Music led the field through fractions of :22.46 and :45.03 with favored Knightsbridge, Disco Time and Imagination in closest pursuit. T O Elvis raced in mid-pack between horses down the backstretch.
On the far turn, T O Elvis launched a four-wide move that gave him clear sailing into the stretch. He blew past Imagination before the eighth pole and was never threatened in the run to the wire. T O Elvis won as much the best.
T O Elvis Returns Home a Winner
“It’s so special to get a win like this at Churchill Downs,” said jockey Ryusei Sakai. “It’s been such a great experience.”
A Grade 3 winner in Japan, T O Elvis improved his record to 9-6-0-3. The winner’s $530,100 check boosted his career earnings to $1,149,212. T O Elvis is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Volatile out of the Curlin mare Stopshoppingdebbie. He was bred by Jeff and Melissa Prunzik.