Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: Twin Spires Turf Sprint 2026

May 02, 2026 Darren Rogers

Yellow Card edges Joe Shiesty to win Twin Spires Turf Sprint in stakes-record time

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 2, 2026) – James Daniell’s Yellow Card surged between horses to edge longtime leader Joe Shiesty by a neck with favored Litigation another head back to win the 32nd running of the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) presented by Accenture for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Flavien Prat, Yellow Card completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:02.20.

Joe Shiesty quickly assumed command after breaking second and led the field of 10 through an opening quarter-mile in :22.39 with Yellow Card tracking in second.

Joe Sheisty carried the advantage to the top of the stretch where he was confronted by Yellow Card to his immediate outside and Litigation three wide. The trio raced as a team through the stretch with Yellow Card narrowly prevailing.

The victory was worth $354,500 and increased Yellow Card’s earnings to $1,099,245 with a record of 14-5-4-1 with his first stakes victory.

Yellow Card is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Lost Treasure (IRE) out of the Pulpit mare Paris Girl.

Yellow Card returned $7.80, $4.24 and $3.02. Joe Shiesty, ridden by Fernando De La Cruz, returned $6.60 and $4.10 with Litigation paying $2.76 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.

It was another nose back to My Boy Prince with Possiblemente, Mondogetsbuckets, Full Disclosure, Bear River, Its Bourbon Thirty and Wendelssohn following in order.

TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT QUOTES

Flavien Prat (Jockey, Yellow Card, winner) – “He broke well and we got into a good spot. He really showed a lot of courage. The whole race was a battle, and he fought to get to the wire first.”

Michael McCarthy (Trainer, Yellow Card, winner) – “Last time at Keeneland he got banged around at the half-mile pole and it wasn’t his day. I’m so proud of him and the effort he was able to put in today. I’m so glad Flavien (Prat) decided to stick with him. (Owner) Jim Daniell needed this one, I needed this one.”

Fernando De La Cruz (Jockey, Joe Shiesty, second) – “We were able to get to the lead and he was traveling well. He tried hard, he just got caught in the last couple jumps.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. (Jockey, Litigation, third) – “We got a beautiful trip and it was a great race. He ran well, we were just not quite able to get there.”

Jose Ortiz (Jockey, My Boy Prince, fourth) – “I had a good trip. I was tucked in just behind the speed, tipped out at the top of the stretch and made a strong run. It was just three tough horses that kept going. I think Yellow Card is a nice horse, and the others around him were very good as well. It was a thrilling finish.”