Churchill Downs Stakes Recap & Quotes: the Pat Day Mile

May 03, 2025 Kevin Kerstein

Mark Fletcher Taylor, trainer Rohan Crichtonand Daniel Walters’ Macho Music went to the front and never was headed in posting an 3 1/4-length victory over favored Madaket Road in the 101st running of the $600,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by SAP (GII) for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Macho Music completed the mile over a sloppy track in 1:35.65. It is the second victory in the race for Castellano, whose previous win came on Rushie in 2020.

Macho Music shot to the front and led the field of nine through fractions of :22.43 and :44.93 with Madaket Road in closest pursuit. At the head of the stretch, Macho Music increased his advantage and was not threatened in the run through the lane.

A Florida-bred son of Maclean’s Music out of the Tapit mare Southern Girl, Macho Music has won four of eight starts with Saturday’s triumph his first graded-stakes score.

Macho Music returned $29.86, $10.66 and $6.26. Madaket Road, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $4.96 and $3.36 and finished a neck in front of stablemate Gaming, who paid $3.56 to show under John Velazquez.

It was another 5 ½ lengths back to Gate to Wire with Perfect Force, Smoken Wicked, Innovator, California Burrito and Built following in order.

PAT DAY MILE QUOTES

Javier Castellano (Jockey, Macho Music, winner) – “He’s a very fast horse and he’s very competitive. His last race down at Tampa when he stretched out in distance gave me a lot of confidence he’d be able to handle the step up in class today.”

Rohan Crichton (Trainer, Macho Music, winner) – “I think the track helped him and he is really a quick horse. He's quick and he's able to stretch his speed which we were a little worried about. In his last race at Tampa, he really relaxed and kicked, which is what gave us the confidence. And he's been getting better, a lot more relaxed. He wouldn't saddle as good as he did today. He’s been really improving mentally.  Javier (Castellano) did a fantastic job. First of all, he got him to rate nicely and then finished up really well. The next race might be the Woody Stephens (at Saratoga on the Belmont Day program). That's what we're thinking about.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (Jockey, Madaket Road, second) – “I thought the winner was coming back to us, to be honest. We were going fast. I thought we were going to be on the lead. (Trainer) Bob (Baffert) told me to send him and I can make the lead. I was working on it and I saw the horse on the outside of me (the winner) going even faster. I settled down for a minute and when we came down the lane, we gave him a second chance, I thought the winner was going to come back a little bit but he never did.”

John Velazquez (Jockey, Gaming, third) – “I thought I had dead aim on the winner and as soon as I moved my hands, he didn't go anywhere. And the other one (Madaket Road) came past me for second. He (Gaming) lied to you. You think you have plenty of horse and you have nothing.”