Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: American Turf

May 04, 2024 Gary Yunt

Amerman Racing Stables’ Trikari, the longest shot on the board at 47-1, overhauled longtime leader Formidable Man at the sixteenth pole to post a 1 1/2-length victory in the 33rd running of the $600,000 American Turf presented by TwinSpires (GII) for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Trikari completed the mile and a sixteenth on a turf course rated as good in 1:43.59.

Formidable Man led the field through fractions of :23.85, :48.15 and 1:12.96 with favored Legend of Time (GB) tracking in second and Trikari getting a rail-skimming trip just behind the leaders.

At the top of the stretch, Legend of Time made his bid to overtake the leader only to have Formidable Man maintain his advantage. Behind the top two, Rispoli angled Trikari off the rail into the three path for clear sailing that propelled him to the front passing the sixteenth pole.

Trikari returned $96.34, $40.20 and $22.98. Formidable Man, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $23.22 and $14.18 and finished a half-length in front of Lagynos, who paid $19.60 to show under Cristian Torres.

It was another 1 ½ lengths back to Cugino, who was followed in order by Legend of Time, Agate Road, Neat, Noted, Can Group, Abrumar, Blue Eyed George, Set, Lord Bullingdon and Stay Hot.

AMERICAN TURF QUOTES

Umberto Rispoli (jockey, Trikari, winner) – “This horse is a very special horse to my career. I won my 2,000th race aboard him and I can’t thank his connections enough for keeping me aboard. I hope we get just as lucky in the Kentucky Derby on Endlessly.”

Graham Motion (trainer, Trikari, winner) – “It was really special performance from a very nice and improving colt. He ran a great race.”

Luis Saez (jockey, Formidable Man, second) – “He broke from there pretty sharp. He never stopped and kept going. He never gave up.”

Michael McCarthy (trainer, Formidable Man, second) -- “He ran very well, I’m very proud of him. First time traveling, big crowd like this, the horse ran well and was a game second. It was a crazy number (his odds), I thought he was too big of a number on the odds board, but he’s obviously a horse who is on his way up. (On the lead) is kind of where we wanted him. I told (jockey) Luis (Saez) to go ahead and put him in the game and I thought Luis rode him wonderfully.”

Cristian Torres (jockey, Lagynos, third) – “I was sitting behind horses thinking the way that (Trikari) was traveling he would be the one to beat. I followed him all the way around. My horse settled great. When the winner kept asking his horse, I would follow suit. We turned for home and I thought for a second that we could get second but we just missed. I am very happy with my horse.”