Bradshaw Enjoys a Moment in the Winner’s Circle

Bradshaw’s Taken by the Wind. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)

Taken by the Wind Carries NFL Legend Terry Bradshaw To Pocahontas Victory

Bentornato earned a 103 Brisnet Speed Rating, Spice Runner and Taken by the Wind each earn 89 BSR

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and longtime FOX NFL Sunday analyst Terry Bradshaw has won plenty of big games in his career, but Saturday he celebrated a different kind of victory when his 2-year-old filly Taken by the Wind captured the 57^th running of the $251,250 Pocahontas Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The win gave the former Pittsburgh Steelers star and his partners 10 qualifying points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks and set up a potential start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

“It’s just great to win this race and potentially have a Breeders’ Cup horse and she got points for the Kentucky Oaks as well,” Bradshaw said. “The first couple of horses I had (in partnership with Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC) were (multiple graded stakes winner) Mission Impazible (21-3-8-2—$1,284,949), who ran in the (2010 Kentucky) Derby, and (multiple graded stakes winner) Graydar (6-5-0-1—$841,560) who turned out to be the better horse and we sold the breeding rights to.

“I’m really into the breeding side of things. I’ve had a couple that I bred and sold. Primarily, I like to buy fillies so I can breed them and not studs because if I’ve got a good filly, I can breed her after racing. If you don’t win the big three (Triple Crown) races or Grade Is with a stud, then their value is hard to come by.”

Bradshaw, 77, said his partnership with trainer Kenny McPeek has been key to his involvement in racing.

“Kenny’s personality fits my personality,” the NFL Hall of Famer said. “I just like being around him. We’re friends and he’s a really good horseman. He knows what he’s looking for.

“I always joke that he’s a poor man’s trainer. It’s hard to compete with the billionaires out there like (Mike) Repole and some of the others, but you have to have a trainer that’s willing to take on people like myself who invest what we consider a substantial amount of money. It’s just a great experience all around.”

Taken by the Wind, purchased for only $20,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, ran one mile in 1:36.50 under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The Florida-bred daughter of Rock Your World out of the First Samurai mare Up for Grabs earned $136,710 for the win and improved her record to 2-for-2.

“I’m on cloud nine,” Bradshaw said.

McPeek, who was scouting yearlings at Keeneland on Saturday, earned his record-extending fifth Pocahontas victory. The filly is co-owned by Magdalena Racing and Graham Leveston.

Spice Runner and Taken by the Wind each earn 89 Brisnet Speed Rating

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Spice Runner earned an 89 Brisnet Speed Rating for his gutsy victory in Saturday’s Iroquois Stakes (Grade III), turning the tables on Comport from the Ellis Park Juvenile (Listed) four weeks ago.

Spice Runner tops the Road to Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with 10 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby 152. The next races in the North American series are the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland, American Pharoah (GI) at Santa Anita and Champagne (GI) at Belmont at the Big A on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby begins Saturday, Sept. 27 with the Montane Developments Beresford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh in Ireland. 

Two races earlier, the Road to the Kentucky Oaks kicked off in the Pocahontas (GIII) where Taken by the Wind also earned an 89 Brisnet Speed Rating for her 5 ¼-length romp in the one-mile affair.

The series continues Friday, Oct. 3 with the Alcibiades Stakes (GI) on opening day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet.

For more information about the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, visit www.kentuckyderby.com. 

Fields For Saturday’s Four Stakes

Saturday’s fifth running of the $300,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs (Race 7 at 3:54 p.m. ET) from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
Optical (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
Semper Primus (Walter Rodriguez, Jimmy DiVito)
Jimmy’s Dailys (Jose Ortiz, Brian Lynch)
U Devil You (Edgar Morales, John Ortiz)
Smoken Wicked (Hernandez, Stewart)
Faster Gator (Jaime Torres, Anthony Farrior)

Saturday’s fifth running $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (Race 8 at 4:26 p.m. ET):
Immersive (Geroux, Cox)
Next Up (Mario Gutierrez, Matt Sims)
Ivory and Ebony (Jose Ortiz, Dale Romans)
Decadent (Colby Hernandez, Kenny McPeek)
Liam in the Dust (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset)
Flash Wear (Corey Lanerie, Tommy Vance)
Quickick (Hernandez, Amoss)

Saturday’s 50^th running of the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs (Race 9 at 4:58 p.m. ET):
Echo Sound (Geroux, Arnold)
Gerlin’s Empire (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)
Kay Cup (Jaime Torres, Jorge Abreu)
Ragtime (Alvarado, Mott)
Strong State (James Graham, Al Stall Jr.)
Sturgeon Moon (Cristian Torres, Will Walden)
Delightful Claire (Jose Ortiz, Phil Bauer)
Mega Mil (Axel Concepcion, John Serivs)

Saturday’s fifth running of the $300,000 Bourbon Flight for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles (Race 10 at 5:29 p.m. ET):
Run Quiet Run Fast (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Gerardo Rodriguez)
Brotha Keny (Jose Ortiz, Bill Morey)
Excite (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bill Mott)
Hypnus (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
Chunk of Gold (Loveberry, West)
Whiskey Shot (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset)
Admiral Dennis (Machado, Cox)
Just a Fair Shake (Axel Concepcion, Daniel McKenzie)

DOWN THE STRETCH … … ….. ……

Racing resumed Sunday at Churchill Downs with a 10-race card at 12:45 p.m. Following overnight rain, the lone turf race was moved to the main track. There was a $49,498 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot spanning Races 5-10. The $3 Late Pick 3 covers Races 8-10. … 

In other Saturday stakes action at Churchill Downs: Bentornato earned a 103 Brisnet Speed Rating for his dominant 5 ¼-length score in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society; Royal Spa earned a 99 Brisnet Speed Rating for her gate-to-wire win in the Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII); and Positano Sunset earned a 96 Brisnet Speed Rating for her rail-skimming victory in the Open Mind (Listed). … 

Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, live racing resumes Wednesday for a five-day week. Thursday’s Twilight Thursday program includes $2 domestic beer, live music by Ben Bernhard and local food trucks Bamba Egg Rolls, Black Rock Grille,HurriKanes, Ramiros and Red Top Dogs. Friday is Senior Day with discounted tickets on Millionaires’ Row for guests 60 and older. Next Sunday is Family Adventure Day: Purple Takeover featuring a meet-and-greet with stars from professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville along with 15 kid-friendly activities. … 

For more information about the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.