Further Ado draws away in Kentucky Jockey Club

Nov 29, 2025 Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs Racetrack Communications

Further Ado wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, 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 3/4 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 Soldier N Diplomat.

Further Ado picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at @ChurchillDowns! 🌟🏆@iradortiz was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and @spendthriftfarm!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SDJKbZ5jiJ

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025

“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 1/4 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).

"If you're trying to get to the Kentucky Derby, it's important that you perform well over this racetrack."@joeydakracing talks to the winning connections of Further Ado after his win in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at @ChurchillDowns! @bradcoxracing @iradortiz @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/EX9tPEGtZB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025

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.