Study Guide: 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Nov 24, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Spice Runner wins the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A strong field has assembled for Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, an important stop on the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 1/16-mile race has attracted a blend of exciting up-and-comers, such as Further Ado and Dr. Kapur, as well as established stakes competitors like Spice Runner and Universe.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the Kentucky Jockey Club field:

Spice Runner

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $312,426

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Simple Surprise
Color: Bay

Spice Runner won the first leg of the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby, rallying tenaciously to take the Iroquois (G3) by a head. But he subsequently stumbled at the start of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and finished a non-threatening fifth. Spice Runner will need to bounce back and improve upon his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating if he’s going to win the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Cherokee Nation

Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Fortune Farms, William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $16,800

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Believe in Charlie
Color: Bay

Although Cherokee Nation is 0-for-2, he nearly won a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita last month, finishing second by a nose against Mr. A. P., who returned to run second against much tougher competition in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Even in defeat, Cherokee Nation earned a 99 Brisnet Speed rating that tops the Kentucky Jockey Club field, so he’s a logical contender in his first start outside California.

Dr. Kapur

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Kenneth L. Ramsey
Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $85,643

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Ava’s Kitten
Color: Bay

Dr. Kapur impressed in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland last month, setting a sharp pace before kicking clear to defeat a next-out winner by 2 3/4 lengths. He has the pedigree to stretch out over 1 1/16 miles and should have every chance to record a top-three finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Soldier N Diplomat

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Machmer Hall
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a Churchill Downs $100,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $146,284

Sire: Army Mule
Dam: Diplomatic Miss
Color: Dark bay/brown

Soldier N Diplomat was much the best in a one-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs last month, racing close to the pace before pulling away to dominate by nine lengths. He displayed strong finishing speed, running his final quarter-mile in :24.45, so there’s a lot of talent and potential here.

Very Connected

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Dream Big Racing
Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing third in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $107,350

Sire: Connect
Dam: C J’s Gal
Color: Bay

Very Connected performed well in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby appearance, rallying to finish third in the Street Sense (G3). But his career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Kentucky Jockey Club field.

⚡ Incredibolt goes from last to first in the G3 Street Sense and earns 10 Kentucky Derby points! @jaimetorresjcky was aboard for trainer @riley_mott.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/w8OfRtZnmz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025

Further Ado

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Breeder: John C. Oxley
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning a Keeneland maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $78,233

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Sky Dreamer
Color: Chestnut

The horse to beat in the Kentucky Jockey Club is Further Ado. He was tons the best in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Keeneland last month, pressing the pace before taking over to crush 11 rivals by 20 lengths. He looks like a star in the making for two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.

Universe

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, Steven Crain, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Becky Pietras
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $154,700

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Equalityforall
Color: Bay

Universe has placed twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, running third in the Champagne (G1) and second in the Street Sense. He’s progressing in the right direction for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek, but needs another step forward from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective to beat rivals like Further Ado and Cherokee Nation.