Yoshida triumph fosters Royal Ascot ambitions for Mott

Report: USA, Saturday

Churchill Downs: Old Forester Turf Classic (Grade 1) 1m1f | turf | 4yo+

Cigar's trainer Bill Mott is readying himself for a return to Royal Ascot after Yoshida (Jose Ortiz) landed his first Grade 1 success in the Turf Classic, $500,000 highlight of the Kentucky Derby undercard.

With Ballydoyle's Deauville a non-runner, the Japanese-bred son of Heart's Cry drew ahead of Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Beach Patrol in a soggy stretch to register a 10-1 success by three-quarters of a length.

Royal Ascot target: Yoshida (Jose Ortiz) is set to run in the Queen Anne Stakes after winning the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill DownsCredit: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography

Like Kentucky Derby winner Justify, Yoshida is owned by a partnership featuring WinStar Farm and the China Horse Club. The four-year-old now looks set to run at the royal meeting, where Mott was in attendance last year with the sprinter Long On Value, who was unplaced in the Diamond Jubilee.

"We've nominated him to Royal Ascot going a flat mile in the Queen Anne Stakes on opening day," said Mott. "Some of the partners would be very interested in going. If he could run well over there, of course, it would increase his value as a stallion because he could do dual-hemisphere."

Winning jockey Jose Ortiz reported that Yoshida had enjoyed the rain-softened conditions underfoot. "I knew he would handle the soft ground," he said.

"In the first turn, he kind of lost his footing a couple steps, but then got back into the race very nicely."

And Royal Ascot? "If they go, I'm going."

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On going officially described as yielding, the AIdan O'Brien-trained Threeandfourpence was soon struggling after breaking slowly. The son of War Front was never a factor before finishing 11th of 14 in a race won by Maraud (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez), who surged to the lead mid-stretch and went on to score by a length and a half.

Churchill Downs: Pat Day Mile (Grade 3) 1m | dirt | 3yo

Ballydoyle's Seahenge endured a horrible journey on the slop. Slowly away, he looked all at sea in the early stages and was hard ridden to attach himself to the rear of the main body of the field, only to get checked in running as they turned into the stretch.

He finished seventh behind a shock winner in the shape of Funny Duck (Rusty Arnold/Brian Hernandez), sent off just short of 40-1 before splashing to victory.

Churchill Downs: Humana Distaff (Grade 1) 7f | dirt | 4yo+ f/m

A notable winner here for former Newmarket trainer Simon Callaghan, who saddled American Gal (Jose Ortiz) to score on a muddy main track. The filly chased track specialist Finley'sluckycharm before taking the lead on the turn and then holding off Ivy Bell by a couple of lengths.

"We were concerned because she's never really run on an 'off' track before but she's just got such a good disposition, such a talented filly, she can go in anything," said Callaghan.