No retreating from First Resort in G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

First Resort announced himself as a contender for next year’s Triple Crown races as he readily took the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on Saturday, 30 November.   

The Eoin Harty-trained colt had already shown a high level of ability on both dirt and turf, filling the runner-up spot in the G2 Saratoga Special and finishing fourth in the G1 Summer Stakes in Canada.   

First Resort was smartly into his stride under Luis Saez and soon settled in a length second behind Dapper Moon. The Godolphin colt moved up to within half a length of the leader as the field bunched leaving the back and took a slender advantage with three furlongs to race.   

Redacted, Tiztastic and Jonathan’s Way attempted to close passing the two-furlong pole, but First Resort rallied strongly in front and increased his lead to two lengths a furlong out.   

The Uncle Mo homebred, who is out of G1 winner Fair Maiden, powered further clear inside the final furlong to cross the line two and a quarter lengths ahead of Jonathan’s Way.   

Eoin Harty said: “First Resort is a very talented colt with a great mind. His mother was very talented but didn’t really have the same mental capacity that this horse has. He’s bred to be a good one and he is.   

“I’ll speak with Michael Banahan [Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA] over the next few days and I’m sure that we will come up with a pretty good gameplan.” 

Luis Saez added: “I really like First Resort. I was watching his replays, and he always breaks fast and gets in the right spot. We had a good post today [8] and broke pretty well. We controlled the pace and, when we came to the top of the straight, I had a lot of horse. He was rolling.”