Study Guide: 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Nov 25, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

A 10-horse field has assembled for Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, a prominent stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 1/16-mile race has produced 27 Kentucky Derby (G1) starters over the past 15 years, including 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.

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

He’s Not Joking

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

Owner: Di Scola Boys Stable
Breeder: James Wasserson
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Grey (G3) at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $110,266

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Collegeville Girl
Color: Bay

He’s Not Joking has shown talent over the synthetic Tapeta track at Woodbine, most notably winning the 1 1/16-mile Grey (G3) by four lengths. But switching to dirt for the Kentucky Jockey Club is a meaningful obstacle for He’s Not Joking to overcome.

Jonathan’s Way

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

Owner: Rigney Racing
Breeder: Susan L. Anderson Racing
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $206,130

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Female Drama
Color: Dark bay/brown

Jonathan’s Way opened his career with back-to-back wins, including a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He subsequently finished a disappointing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but that was a fast race against tough competition, and Jonathan’s Way earned a 99 Brisnet Speed rating even in defeat. That’s the highest number in the Kentucky Jockey Club field, so dropping in class and returning to the site of his Iroquois triumph may send Jonathan’s Way back to the winner’s circle.

Jonathan's Way took the first prep race on the Road to Kentucky Derby 151 on Saturday @ChurchillDowns with a win in the Iroquois!

He is your TS Stable Alerts Horse of the Week and click the link below to add him to your stable!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/7q4PL6qxmS pic.twitter.com/3XbxmOSTEP

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 17, 2024

Tiztastic

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

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith
Breeder: Capital Bloodstock
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $781,100

Sire: Tiz the Law
Dam: Keesha
Color: Dark bay/brown

Both of Tiztastic’s victories have come on turf, but he also ran well on dirt in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs, rallying to finish second in that Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. He’s sticking to the same track and distance for the Kentucky Jockey Club and has every chance to record a top-three finish.

Dapper Moon

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

Owner: Valene Farms
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (93) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $105,638

Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Fashioned Gem
Color: Gray/roan

Dapper Moon has started twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, running fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Street Sense. He finished only a neck and a head behind runner-up Tiztastic in the Street Sense and may be able to turn the tables with a small step forward.

Filoso

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

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: Hunter Valley Farm and Oisin Murphy
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (87) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $117,250

Sire: City of Light
Dam: Kenda
Color: Dark bay/brown

Filoso joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a stretch-running third-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity. He benefited from saving some ground over a track that favored inside runners, but his placing at the Grade 1 level must still be respected.

Clock Tower

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

Owner: Mrs. Fitri Hay
Breeder: Clarkland Farm
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $165,938

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Hot Stones
Color: Dark bay/brown

Clock Tower’s lone victory came on turf, as did his respectable third-place finish in the Bourbon (G2). But he earned his highest Brisnet Speed rating when finishing second in a one-mile maiden special weight on dirt, so Clock Tower appears to have multi-surface versatility. A pure frontrunner who has set the pace in all four of his starts, Clock Tower looms as a front-end danger while returning to dirt for the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Sonic Skidaddle

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

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (86) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $70,278

Sire: City of Light
Dam: Chica Boom Chic
Color: Gray/roan

Sonic Skidaddle unleashed a giant last-to-first rally to dominate a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 4 3/4 lengths. If Sonic Skidaddle can improve upon his career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles, a competitive showing in the Kentucky Jockey Club isn’t out of the question.

First Resort

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

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $100,231

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Fair Maiden
Color: Bay

First Resort possibly didn’t relish turf when finishing fourth in the Summer (G1) last time out. He’d previously finished a pacesetting second in the Saratoga Special (G2) on dirt. This speedy son of Uncle Mo figures to race forwardly in the Kentucky Jockey Club and may carry his speed farther than many bettors expect.

Render Judgment

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

Owner: Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, and Rocket Ship Racing
Breeder: Green Lantern Stables
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (87) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $87,500

Sire: Blame
Dam: Barbara Gordon
Color: Bay

Render Judgment made a tenacious late bid to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last month by half a length, earning a respectable 87 Brisnet Speed rating. Trainer Kenny McPeek has won the Kentucky Jockey Club twice in the last six years and can pick up another win if Render Judgment improves at all off his maiden victory.

Redacted

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

Owner: Briland Farm
Breeder: Briland Farm, Robert Mitchell, and Stacy Mitchell
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Edgar Morales

Top Speed Rating: (76) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $18,400

Sire: Honor Code
Dam: Delicatus
Color: Dark bay/brown

Redacted debuted on Nov. 14 in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, showing speed on his way to second place. Redacted’s pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/16 miles won’t be an issue, but the 76 Brisnet Speed rating he earned on debut looks a little light against the Kentucky Jockey Club field.