Churchill Downs Stars of Tomorrow II Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Further Ado Draws Away to Win Grade II, $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club; Godolphin's Bella Ballerina Holds On to Win Grade II, $397,375 Golden Rod

Nov 29, 2025

Further Ado put away Solider N Diplomat in the stretch and drew away late to win Saturday’s 99th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) at Churchill Downs by 1 ¾ lengths over a closing Universe which gave Louisville native Brad Cox his milestone 500th win as a trainer at the historic Louisville track.

Further Ado, owned by Eric Gustavson’s Spendthrift Farm, verified his 20-length, two-turn maiden win 50 days ago at Keeneland, when he clocked 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” track in 1:43.33 under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. amid frigid Fall temperatures in the 30s on the 21st annual “Stars of Tomorrow II” program for 2-year-olds.

“This was a really good test for him,” said Cox, who also won the 2022 Kentucky Jockey Club with Instant Coffee. “He won very impressively last time. Today he had to show a different dimension and really dig down late to get by. It’s very important to get a horse like this started early on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully he can bring us right back here in the spring.”

For Cox, he became the 10th trainer in Churchill Downs history to win 500 races beneath the track’s signature Twin Spires. Earlier on Saturday’s card, veteran horseman Greg Foley also achieved the milestone when 2-year-old filly No Time Left won the third race.

Further Ado earned $242,470 and collected 10 points as part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” series, which offered points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers as a “Prep Season” race.

Breaking from post No. 6, Further Ado raced in the clear in fourth down the backstretch as South Florida invader Dr. Kapur went to the front to lead the field of seven 2-year-olds through solid early fractions of :23.35, :46.76 and 1:10.84. Soldier N Diplomat, fourth in the Grade I Hopeful this summer and a recent runaway first-level allowance winner, raced in second with Southern California maiden winner Cherokee Nation, who checked into the first turn while trying to make the lead, in third. Behind Further Ado in fourth was a gap to rail riding Iroquois (GIII) winner Spice Runner, who was followed by Champagne (GI) third and Street Sense (GIII) runner-up Universe and Street Sense third Very Connected.

Leaving the final turn, Further Ado rallied into third as Soldier N Diplomat put away Dr. Kapur at the head of the stretch. Soldier N Diplomat and Further Ado battled gamely down the stretch until Further Ado took command inside the final sixteenth of a mile. Universe rallied from far back up the inside rail to get second by a half-length over Solider N Diplomat.

“He was able to show a different dimension today,” Ortiz Jr. said. “I was able to let the speed go and sit a pretty good trip. He had to really dig in late to get to the wire first. I think this race will really benefit him down the road.”

Further Ado paid $3.42, $2.56 and $2.10 as the odds-on 3-5 favorite. Universe, under Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $5.48 and $3.36 at odds of 12-1. Soldier N Diplomat at 7-1 under Tyler Gaffalione returned $2.92 to show.

It was another 1 ¼ lengths back to Very Connected in fourth, who was followed by Cherokee Nation, Dr. Kapur and Spice Runner.

Overall, Further Ado has won two of four starts with third- and fifth-place finishes in sprints. His earnings stand at $320,703.

This victory was the fourth on the day for the team of Ortiz Jr. and Cox, who also teamed to win with fillies Sticker Shock, Kentucky Belle and On Time Girl, who won the $225,000 Fern Creek. Ortiz Jr. has ridden 26 2-year-old winners this year at Churchill Downs while Cox has trained 20 juvenile winners. Both lead the jockeys and trainers.

Cox joined an illustrious group of horsemen to win 500 races at Churchill Downs: 1. Steve Asmussen (992), 2. Dale Romans (827), 3. Bill Mott (795), 4. Kenny McPeek (593), 5. Tom Amoss (585), 6. Mike Maker (564), 7. Wayne Lukas (562), 8. Cox (500), 8. Bernie Flint (500) and 8. Foley (500).

Further Ado, a chestnut son of Gun Runner out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer, was bred in Kentucky by John C. Oxley.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is named in honor of the holding company that operated Churchill Downs at the time of the race’s inaugural running in 1920. In recent years, the Kentucky Jockey Club produced Kentucky Derby winners in WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, who won both races for trainer Todd Pletcher in 2009 and ’10, and Mike Pegram’s Real Quiet, the runner-up in the 1997 Kentucky Jockey Club who returned to win the Derby the following spring.

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GODOLPHIN’S BELLA BALLERINA HOLDS ON TO WIN GRADE II, $397,375 GOLDEN ROD

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025) – Godolphin’s 2-year-old homebred filly Bella Ballerina sat five lengths back of a runaway pacesetter before she made the first run around the final turn and had enough energy left to hold on and win Saturday’s 82nd running of the $397,375 Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs by a diminishing half-length over a fast-closing Atropa.

Bella Ballerina, a 4 ¼-length winner in her Oct. 5 debut at Keeneland and half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, returned to run 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” track in 1:43.50 in a field of 10 2-year-old fillies. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“It’s amazing ever since she ran the first time she appears to be becoming more and more like (Pretty Mischievous),” Walsh said. “We loved her sister and hopefully this one will be just as good.”

This marked the second year in a row that Godolphin won the Golden Rod with a homebred. Good Cheer, who’d go onto to win this spring’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), prevailed in last year’s Golden Rod by 2 ½ lengths under the care of trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez.

Bella Ballerina collected the $238,440 first prize and 10 points as part of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series, which offers points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers as a “Prep Season” race.

After 65-1 longshot Essential Coffee stumbled out of the gate and dropped jockey Corey Lanerie, New York’s $200,000 Maid of the Mist winner Letmecounttheways ran off to the front. led the field through early fractions of a :23.45, :46.31 and 1:11.19 as Bella Ballerina was several lengths behind but a clear second.

Bella Ballerina engaged the tiring leader at the head of the stretch before she took command with a furlong to run. With Atropa, Just Singing and Life of Joy closing from far back, Bella Ballerina flopped back to her left lead while tiring in the final sixteenth of a mile but outlasted her challengers for the win.

“Going from a sprint to her first time around two turns there can always be some questions but we were confident in her that she’d be able to handle it today,” Gaffalione said. “All the credit goes to Brendan and his team for having her ready to do that. She really showed up for us today. It just made my job easier.”

Bella Ballerina paid $10.28, $6.12 and $4.76 as the 4-1 third betting choice. Atropa, under Jose Ortiz at odds of 4-1, paid $4.92 and $3.66. Just Singing, at 6-1, was another half-length back in third and returned $3.86 to show with Luan Machado up.

Life of Joy, the Rags to Riches winner and 5-2 favorite, finished fourth and was followed by Letmecounttheways, Vita Mia, Baracca, Coco Connect and Raspberry. Essential Coffee was caught by the Churchill Downs outriders. Explora, The Grumpy Rabbit and Wonzee Weather were scratched.

Bella Ballerina’s earnings now total $301,525.

“Early in the race I was just hoping we were in the right spot,” Walsh said. “Everyone has been on the pace this weekend that has been running well. It was a little bit of a weird race. Tyler said he smooched at her around the three-eighths pole and took off. She just got a little tired late and that’s what’s to be expected going two turns for the first time. She passed with flying colors.”

By 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Bella Ballerina is out of the Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer, who won the Grade I Spinaway. The bay filly was bred in Kentucky.

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BOYD OVERCOMES AWKWARD START, EASILY WINS $217,250 ED BROWN

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025) – Southern California invader Boyd from the powerful barn of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert rebounded from an awkward start to easily dispatch his three rivals in Saturday’s fifth running of the $217,250 Ed Brown for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Boyd covered the 6 ½ furlongs on a “fast” track in 1:15.58 for owner Amr F. Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stables to defeat Big Dom by 2 ½ lengths and remain unbeaten in two starts.

A 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Violence out of the Street Boss mare A Taste of Red, Boyd added $138,500 to his bankroll, which brought his earnings to $186,500. He broke his maiden 83 days ago by 5 ¾ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on Sept. 7.

Breaking from the outside post, Boyd overcame a slight bobble away from the gate and raced just off the right shoulder of $250,000 Bowman Mill winner Gallivant, who broke alertly from the rail and clipped an opening quarter mile in :22.61. Boyd poked his nose in front midway around the turn and shook clear of that rival at the top of the stretch after a half-mile in :44.89 as Stradale, a Churchill maiden winner 34 days ago, put in a three-wide challenge. The chase inside the final furlong was to no avail as Boyd proved to be much the best, as Breeders’ Futurity (GI) sixth Big Dom closed from last to outrun Stradale by a length for the placing.

“He was traveling really well the entire race,” Prat said. “He took a nice breather on the backside and finished up very well. He came from a 5 ½-furlong race and it was a question if he could handle the 6 ½ furlongs today and he did.”

Boyd, named after Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer Boyd T. Browning Jr., returned $3.48 and $3 as the odds-on 3-5 favorite in the compact field of four juvenile sprinters (note: there was no show wagering). Big Dom, under Jose Ortiz at 8-1, returned $2.38 and $2.10 with Glean finishing another six lengths back in third under Gerardo Corrales and paying $2.84 to show.

Bobrovsky and Ganaas were scratched.

The winner was bred by Nasser Omihira.

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ON TIME GIRL IMPRESSES IN $225,000 FERN CREEK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025) – On Time Girl tracked pacesetter Solemn Vow before she put away that rival leaving the turn and drew off in the stretch for an impressive 3 ½-length win over 9-5 favorite Paige Turner in Saturday’s fifth running of the $225,000 Fern Creek for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

On Time Girl, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., ran 6 ½ furlongs over a “fast” track in a stakes record 1:15.83, which bested Impulse Buy’s 2024 mark of 1:16.17.

“It was really nice to have a target to run at,” Ortiz Jr. said, referring to Solemn Vow, who clipped off early fractions of :23.04 and :46.08. “She’s a very nice filly and showed it today.”

The victory was worth $134,160 for owner Dennis Albaugh’s Albaugh Family Stables LLC and increased On Time Girl’s earnings to $315,525 with a record of 3-1-0 in four starts. She is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Not This Time out of the Uncle Mo mare Girl Daddy.

“I think the (six) post really helped her,” said Cox, who also won the 2023 Fern Creek with Youalmosthadme. “She was able to have a target to run out and sit just off of the leader. She was able to finish up well today. We may try to gradually stretch her out. I’m not certain she’s a mile-and-an-eighth horse but she’s honest and a good work horse.”

After winning her first two races – a six-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park in August and a six-furlong first-level allowance at Churchill Downs in September – On Time Girl finished second to A Fine Chardonnnay in the $250,000 Myrtlewood at Keeneland over six furlongs on Oct. 24.

Sent off as the 3-1 third betting choice, On Time Girl returned $8.22, $4.40 and $2.68. Paige Turner, who chased along inside down the backstretch under Jose Ortiz, paid $3.48 and $2.60 with a rallying A Fine Chardonnay another 3 ½ lengths back in third, who paid $2.86 to show at 3-1 under Tyler Gaffalione.

Solemn Vow, Go to Girl, Woodstock, Mackinac, I B Flyin and River Rise completed the order of finish. Have Faith was scratched.

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KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB QUOTES

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey, Further Ado, winner: “He was able to show a different dimension today. I was able to let the speed go and sit a pretty good trip. He had to really dig in late to get to the wire first. I think this race will really benefit him down the road.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Further Ado, winner: “This was a really good test for him. He won very impressively last time. Today he had to show a different dimension and really dig down late to get by. It’s very important to get a horse like this started early on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully he can bring us right back here in the spring.”

Kenny McPeek, trainer, Universe, runner-up: “I think we need to get a little bit luckier with his trip. He ran well again today, but got pushed wide into the turn.”

GOLDEN ROD QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Bella Ballerina, winner: “Going from a sprint to her first time around two turns there can always be some questions but we were confident in her that she’d be able to handle it today. All the credit goes to Brendan (Walsh) and his team for having her ready to do that. She really showed up for us today. It just made my job easier.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer, Bella Ballerina, winner: “Early in the race I was just hoping we were in the right spot. Everyone has been on the pace this weekend that has been running well. It was a little bit of a weird race. Tyler said he smooched at her around the three-eighths pole and took off. She just got a little tired late and that’s what’s to be expected going two turns for the first time. She passed with flying colors. It’s amazing ever since she ran the first time she appears to be becoming more and more like (Pretty Mischievous). We loved her sister and hopefully this one will be just as good.”

Kent Sweezey, trainer, Just Singing, third: “We’re so proud of her race today. It was a big test trying winners for the first time but she ran a huge race. I think she has a very bright future.”

ED BROWN QUOTES

Flavien Prat, jockey, Boyd, winner: “He was traveling really well the entire race. He took a nice breather on the backside and finished up very well. He came from a 5 ½-furlong race and it was a question if he could handle the 6 ½ furlongs today and he did.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey, Big Dom, runner-up: “He ran well today. He was able to come with a late run and was finishing up strongly but was second best today.”

FERN CREEK QUOTES

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey, On Time Girl, winner: “It was really nice to have a target to run at. She’s a very nice filly and showed it today.”

Brad Cox, trainer, On Time Girl, winner: “I think the (six) post really helped her. She was able to have a target to run out and sit just off of the leader. She was able to finish up well today. We may try to gradually stretch her out. I’m not certain she’s a mile-and-an-eighth horse but she’s honest and a good work horse.”

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