Roll On Big Joe victorious in the Kelly’s Landing (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Roll On Big Joe collared speedster Booth at the top of the stretch and turned back late runs by 8-5 favorite Dr. Venkman and Durante to win Saturday’s 15th running of the $220,000 Kelly’s Landing (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Roll On Big Joe clocked 6 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.22 for trainer Bob Hess Jr. and owners Rancho Temescal LLC (Tim Cohen), White Fence LLC (David Marabella) and Richard Hale Jr.
The triumph for the Florida-bred was worth $120,280 and boosted Roll On Big Joe’s bankroll to $494,400 with a record of 7-6-1 in 18 starts.
Multiple stakes winner Booth, the 9-5 second betting choice, went to the front as expected and rattled off fractions of :22.33 and :44.97 as Roll On Big Joe sat second. Roll On Big Joe began to press the leader on the turn, poked his nose in front at the top of the stretch and then had to hold off late runs by San Diego Handicap (GII) winner Dr. Venkman to his inside and Aristides winner Durante to his outside.
“I was able to sit a really good trip today, just outside the speed,” Leparoux said. “He won at this distance in his last start and was able to keep fighting all the way to the wire.”
Roll On Big Joe, who entered the race off an allowance/optional-claiming win at Churchill Downs on May 16, returned $11.90, $4.86 and $3.98 as the 9-2 third betting choice. Southern California invader Dr. Venkman, who encountered brief traffic trouble with a furlong to run under Antonio Fresu, was second, returned $3.48 and $2.92 and finished a head in front of Durante who paid $3.94 to show under Jose Ortiz at odds of 7-1.
Roll on Big Joe gets the win in the G3 Kelly's Landing at @churchilldowns at 9/2 for trainer Robert Hess with @julienleparoux in the irons!
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 28, 2025
TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/tUNC4mPJEf
Booth was fourth and was followed by Happy Is a Choice, Three Technique, Otto the Conqueror and Red Flag.
Roll On Big Joe is a 5-year-old gelded son of Prospective out of the Victory Gallop mare Nina’s Gift. He was bred by Max Ubide.
This was his second graded stakes win. In February, Roll On Big Joe prevailed in the $100,000 Palos Verdes (GIII) at Santa Anita.
“It was great to be able to hook up again with Julien,” Hess Jr. said. “I knew him from a couple decades ago in California. He sat a great trip and Julien gave him a perfect ride. It’s great to be here in Kentucky with him.”
The Kelly’s Landing honors the Summerplace Farm runner who earned $1,853,831 from a record of 10-3-2 in 27 starts for trainer Eddie Kenneally between 2004-09. The gelding won the six-furlong Aristides Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs in 2005 by stopping the teletimer in a track record 1:07.55 (since eclipsed). His biggest victory came in the 2007 Dubai Golden Saheen at Nad Al Sheba in the United Arab Emirates. Kelly’s Landing also won the 2006 Phoenix (GIII) at Keeneland and 2007 Mr. Prospector Handicap (GIII) at Gulfstream Park.
