Ragtime wins the Dogwood after a sluggish start (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ragtime, the runner-up in the Grade I Test in her previous start, overcame a sluggish start but charged down the homestretch with style to defeat longshot Strong State by 2 ¼ lengths in Saturday’s 50th running of the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (Grade III) – the centerpiece of four stakes races at Churchill Downs.
Campaigned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott for owner/breeder Godolphin LLC, Ragtime covered seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:22.35 under jockey Junior Alvarado – the same trio that teamed to win this year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) with Sovereignty.
“She ran huge,” Alvarado said. “Broke a little slow, relaxed and came with a big run.”
The $181,900 first prize jumped Ragtime’s earnings to $397,400 from a record of 3-1-0 in four starts.
Ragtime, bet down to 4-5 favoritism, paid $3.96, $2.82 and $2.10. Strong State, a 28-1 longshot ridden by James Graham, returned $12.76 and $5.10. Delightful Claire, the 5-2 third betting choice with Jose Ortiz up, was half-length back of the runner-up and paid $3.14 to show.
Mega Mil, Sturgeon Moon, Gerlin’s Empire and 2-1 second choice Echo Sound completed the order of finish.
Breaking from post position No. 3, Ragtime hesitated at the start and was last out of the gate as Delightful Claire went to the front through early fractions of :22.84, :45.55 and 1:10.03. Ragtime had one horse beat down the backstretch but began to advance into the turn along the inside. As Mega Mil challenged Delightful Claire in upper stretch, Ragtime tipped out five-wide and began to hit her best stride. Ragtime passed the leaders just before the sixteenth pole and outkicked a rallying Strong State to the wire.
This was the first stakes victory for Ragtime, who finished a neck back of Kilwin in the Aug. 2 Test at Saratoga in her only other stakes appearance.
“She really ran a big race today,” said Kenny McCarthy, Mott’s veteran chief assistant in Kentucky. “The team in New York did a great job with her before she came to Kentucky. Junior did a great job not to panic after breaking slowly. She was able to have a target to run at and finished up really well.”
Ragtime is a daughter of Union Rags out of the Storm Cat mare Burmilla and was bred in Kentucky by her owners.
The Dogwood is named for the hardy, blooming tree that adds so much beauty to the spring landscape in Kentucky.
