Churchill Downs Stakes Recap & Quotes: The Derby City Distaff

May 03, 2025 Kevin Kerstein

Spendthrift Farm’s Kopian swept to the front passing the eighth pole and drew off for a 3-length victory over Hope Road in the 39th running of the $1 million Derby City Distaff Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (GI) for fillies and mares.

Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Kopian completed the seven furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:21.76. The victory was the first for Mandella here since 2004 with Siphonizer in an allowance race and first stakes victory since 2001 in the Mamzelle with Separata(CHI).

Mystic Lake shot to the lead with an opening quarter-mile in :22.30 with Hope Road second and Kopion racing in sixth along the rail. Hope Road went after Mystic Lake on the far turn and swept past at the top of the lane while behind her, Kimura had moved Kopian off the inside and swung six wide into the stretch.

Hope Road opened a clear advantage in the upper stretch but had no answer for the charge from Kopian.

Now a two-time Grade I winner and owning five victories in seven starts, Kopion is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Ami.

Favored in her first excursion from Southern California, Kopion returned $7.48, $4.80 and $3.22. Hope Road, ridden by Juan Hernandez, returned $8.24 and $5.04 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Ways and Means, who paid $3 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another 3 lengths back to Scylla with Emery, Positano Sunset, Vahva, Benedetta, Mystic Lake and Miss Susan B following in order.

DERBY CITY DISTAFF QUOTES

Kazushi Kimura (Jockey, Kopian, first) – “She's been training beautifully in the morning and the question was just how she'd handle it here in Kentucky. She loved this track and is such a special filly. It was so special to win on Oaks Day.”

Richard Mandella (Trainer, Kopian, first) – “I had no concern at all (about the sloppy track). You know, being down in the post two, you're worried about her getting buried. She did get off a little bit slower than I thought she would. But the jock (Kazushi Kimura) had a lot of confidence in her and he rode her that way. And the more we go, the smarter she gets. She's starting to make it look like I know something.

“How much better can she get? Well, I hope there's upside, but I don't know where you get it. She’s done a lot already. But it's nice to see her handle so smart and confident. We think she can get two turns, but I don't know if I want to fool with it until after the Breeders’ Cup. I don't want to break it if it ain't broke.”

Juan Hernandez (Jockey, Hope Road, second) – “I was having a beautiful trip as she was so happy in the backside. She was pulling a little bit. I think I was I in a perfect spot and, as I told Bob (Baffert), that I was going to wait until the quarter pole to make my move. And then when I made my move, she opened up and she kept going, but then I said (to myself), who is that guy (on my outside)?, She gave me everything that she had and she was ready for this race, I think she's improving again, and I think she's going to get a lot out of this race.”