Khaadem. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
9-year-old gelding possibly going to Breeders’ Cup
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—In the 29th running of the Woodford, Khaadem surged from far back to post a neck victory over Script.
Khaadem totally missed the break and started last of eight as Doncho led the field through fractions of :21.95 and :44.81 while being tracked by favored Governor Sam.
Khaadem was still last at the top of the stretch while up front, Governor Sam was putting the pressure on Doncho and taking the lead at midstretch.
However, the stretch runners were closing in with Khaadem finishing fastest of all to get the win with Script a head better than Joe Shiesty for second.
Trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Khaadem completed the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.18. It is the first Keeneland stakes win for Hills.
Khaadem is a 9-year-old son of Dark Angel out of the Footstepsinthesand mare White Daffodil. A two-time Group 1 winner in England, Khaadem increased his earnings to $2,615,444.
Khaadem returned $8.54, $5.32 and $3.58. Script, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $14.66 and $7 with Joe Shiesty paying $4.76 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
Governor Sam was another neck back in fourth and followed in order by Arrest Me Red, Outlaw Kid, Doncho and Charcoal.
Racing continues Sunday afternoon with a 10-race program that features three stakes races headlined by the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) with reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.
Keeneland will offer a Super Hi Five carryover of $12,990.
Quotes from the $400,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel at Keeneland
Frankie Dettori (winning rider of Khaadem-IRE): “(The pace) was the easy part. The hardest part is getting to the start and into the gate. He’s a 9-year-old gelding, but he can be a handful. For some reason, today he was calmer than usual. He fluffed the start, but it didn’t matter because he likes a target. For a minute, I thought to go through them, but it looked a bit tight, so I thought, ‘Just get him out.’ He’s an old fox, and today he decided to put his best foot forward and he won as he liked. He’s a character. Sometimes he doesn’t turn up, but today he did.”
Charlie Hills (winning trainer): “He’s been training here since (finishing third in the Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint-G2 at) Kentucky Downs a month ago, so he is into a nice routine. I was a little bit worried about how quiet he was, to be honest with you. He’s 9 years old, he’s won some fantastic races in his career, and I just think he likes being out here. He’s just gotten used to the different way of training. I think it’s just sparked him up. Ed Vaughan — we go back a long way— he and I looked after him the last few weeks and he did a fantastic job. He’s got his old spark back, so hopefully we might look at the Breeders’ Cup in a few weeks’ time.”
On why Khaadem is so special to him: “Like I say, he’s 9 years old and he won his first race as a 2-year-old, so we go back a long way. He’s won some fantastic races back in England — two Jubilees at Royal Ascot — and he’s won some amazing prize money, so he’s given us all a lot of joy. Horses have such good characters and he’s certainly got one.”
John Velazquez (rider of runner-up Script): “Coming to the sixteenth pole, I thought I was going to win it. At that sixteenth pole, another horse showed up. I couldn’t believe that, though. I’m good. Very good.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of fourth-place finisher and beaten favorite Governor Sam): “He was sprinting, and he was going a good decent pace. I think I was in control where I was, I just rode my horse. He gave a good run.”
