Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: William Walker (Listed)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, May 13, 2023) – No Nay Hudson (IRE), stakes-placed on three occasions, collected the first stakes win of his career when he powered home in the stretch to beat Two of a Kind by 1 ½ lengths in Saturday’s eighth running of the $208,750 William Walker (Listed) for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Odds-on favorite Gaslight Dancer finished another head back in third in the field of eight.

No Nay Hudson (IRE), owned by Andrew Farm (Richard Brodie) and For the People Racing Stable LLC (T. Mike Morgan), clocked 5 ½ furlongs over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:02.30 to eclipse Big Invasion’s 2022 stakes record of 1:03.73. James Graham rode the winner for trainer Wesley Ward.

No Nay Hudson (IRE) was rated in seventh three-wide and in the clear only 3 ¾ lengths back of the leaders Two of a Kind and Crispy Cat (GB), who rattled off early fractions of :21.78 and :44.56. Leaving the far turn, No Nay Hudson (IRE) tipped out six wide and hit his best stride with three-sixteenths of a mile to run and collared Two of Kind inside the final furlong for the win.

“Wesley called me earlier and just said to let this horse break on his own and take you there,” Graham said. “He has a lot of early speed but I didn’t break as well as we thought we would. He got into a good spot early and was able to get the job done. I was very fortunate to be able to ride this horse and I think Wesley and the owners will have some fun with him in the future.”

No Nay Hudson (IRE) is an Irish-bred son of No Nay Never out of the Malibu Moon mare Raw Silk, who was bred by RJB Bloodstock. Now owning a 7-2-2-1 record, No Nay Hudson (IRE) has earned $233,546 with $120,280 coming from Saturday’s check.

The breakthrough William Walker win was preceded by second-place finishes in last year’s $150,000 Skidmore at Saratoga and this winter’s $116,400 Atlantic Beach at Aqueduct along with a third in last fall’s $244,688 Indian Summer at Keeneland.

Prior to the Walker, No Nay Hudson (IRE) finished sixth of 12 in the $246,469 Palisades at Keeneland over a course rated “good.”

No Nay Hudson (IRE) returned $23.54, $9.36 and $5.56 at odds of 10-1. Two of Kind, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $5.30 and $3.42 with Palisades winner Gaslight Dancer finishing third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $2.54 to show.

Crispy Cat (GB) was fourth and followed in order by Private Creed, Ah Jeez, Gilcrease and Chiringo.

James Graham (jockey, No Nay Hudson, winner) – “Wesley (Ward) called me earlier and just said to let this horse break on his own and take you there. He has a lot of early speed but I didn’t break as well as we thought we would. He got into a good spot early and was able to get the job done. I was very fortunate to be able to ride this horse and I think Wesley and the owners will have some fun with him in the future.”

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Two of a Kind, runner-up) – “We were running well on the lead to the inside. In the stretch (No Nay Hudson) just came sweeping down the middle of the track. My horse tried and ran well. We beat the winner last time and today he beat us. We were second best.”