Churchill Downs Update: Dylan Machado Notches First North American Victory Friday at Churchill Downs

Nov 29, 2025

The Machado family celebrated a new milestone Friday at Churchill Downs when 19-year-old Dylan Machado, the younger brother of Kentucky-based rider Luan Machado, secured his first North American victory aboard Good Money in Race 9.

Machado, a former standout rider in Brazil, arrived in the U.S. earlier this week and has already attracted attention from several local trainers. Represented by Cory Prewitt, Machado will be based at Turfway Park this winter and has been named on seven mounts across the first two days of the Holiday Meet, which begins Wednesday. Friday marked his lone mount of the year at Churchill Downs.

“I’m so thankful for everyone who helped open the doors for me to come here,” Machado said. “Winning at Churchill Downs is something I’ll never forget. I came here to work hard every day and prove I belong. This is the biggest win of my career so far.”

Like his brother, Machado began his career in Brazil, where he quickly became one of the country’s rising talents. He won hundreds of races as an apprentice rider at Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro before relocating to North America.

The Machado family has deep roots in horse racing. Their father, Ronaldo Machado, was a longtime jockey in Brazil. Luan, now firmly established on the Kentucky circuit, has earned multiple riding titles at Turfway Park since relocating to the U.S. fulltime in 2018.

“To be here riding in the same place as Luan is very special,” Machado said. “We’ve dreamed about this for a long time.”

Dylan and Luan aren’t the only Machado siblings based in Kentucky. Their brother Muriel Machado, who also rode in Brazil, works as a valet in the Churchill Downs jockeys’ quarters and was galloping this summer at Turfway Park for trainers Doug Cowans and Brendan Walsh.

“Dylan is so lucky,” Luan joked. “We kept saying he was going to win with this horse in his first start here. He’s a very talented rider and I’m glad he was able to come to Kentucky.”

DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT CLIMBS TO $422,348 FOR SATURDAY’S CARD – Saturday’s Derby City 6 Jackpot will give horseplayers a chance to score a massive payday with the carryover standing at $422,348 for the 12-race card.

The Derby City 6 Jackpot, which challenges bettors to have the only winning combination to take down the jackpot, has a 20-cent denomination with a low 15 percent takeout. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the daily pool will be paid out with the remaining 10 percent going to the carryover.

Saturday’s sequence: (with scratches as of 9 a.m. ET)

Race 7 (3:55 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo, 1 1/16 M (12 runners)
Race 8 (4:25 p.m.): $225,000 Fern Creek, 2yo f, 6 ½ F (nine runners)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo, 1 M (T) (11 runners)
Race 10 5:25 p.m.): $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII), 2yo, 1 1/16 M (seven runners)
Race 11 (5:54 p.m.): $400,000 Golden Rod (GII), 2yo f, 1 1/16 M (11 runners)
Race 12 (6:26 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo, 7 F (12 runners)
The main track was listed as “fast” and turf labeled as “firm” with the temporary rail set at 5 feet.

SATONO VOYAGE KICKS OFF JAPAN ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY WITH VICTORY IN CATTLEYA – The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby kicked off early Saturday morning when 8-5 favorite Satono Voyage was able to kick clear late for a 1 ½-length victory over 133-1 longshot Don Erectus in the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.

Owned by Hajime Satomi and trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, Satono Voyage improved his record to three wins from just four starts. A son of three-time Kentucky Derby winning stallion Into Mischief, Satono Voyage was ridden to victory by Keita Tosaki.

Tanaka reported after the race that Satono Voyage could compete next in the Feb. 14 Saudi Derby on the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Arcadia Cafe finished third and was followed by Every Possible and Ho O Luxor.

The top five finishers in the Cattleya earned 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points toward an invitational bid for Kentucky Derby 152.

The next race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is the Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse.

‘ALL OTHERS’ 7-2 FAVORITE AFTER SECOND DAY OF KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 2 – “All Other Foals of 2023” was the 7-2 favorite after two days of wagering in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Ted Noffey the 5-1 individual favorite in the four-day pool.

Other horses taking attention included Further Ado (12-1), Rebel Instinct (16-1), Boyd (17-1), Brant (21-1) and Mr. A. P. (21-1).

In the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, offspring of Into Mischief were the 5-2 favorite followed by Gun Runner (3-1), Not This Time (7-2), Liam’s Map (25-1) and Maxfield (29-1).

The pools, featuring $2 Win and Exacta wagering, opened Thursday at noon (all times Eastern) and will close Sunday at 6 p.m.

For the latest odds, free past performances and more information, visit www.kentuckyderby.com/futurewager.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Churchill Downs track maintenance crew worked the track throughout the night due to the below freezing temperatures in the Louisville area. The track opened at 5:30 a.m. for training and closed an hour earlier than normal at 9 a.m. … Trainer Greg Foley was one win away from 500 victories at Churchill Downs. He had one entry on Saturday in Race 3. Brad Cox is also approaching the same milestone and needed four wins. He had 10 horses entered on Saturday’s card. … Rumor has it Churchill Downs expert handicapper Joe Kristufek made Santa’s naughty list this Christmas. Fans can visit Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Saturday from 3-5 p.m. on the 2nd Floor Clubhouse to check their own status – or put in a Christmas request for a winning Derby City 6 Jackpot ticket. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.