Christmas got here early for Godolphin, or at the very least that is what the snowfall made it really feel like because the royal blue silks entered the Churchill Downs winner’s circle in each of the Nov. 30 featured stakes for 2-year-olds.
Simply as that they had completed one month prior within the Oct. 27 Street to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps held in Louisville, Ky., Godolphin swept the winners’ 10 qualifying factors with a pair of homebreds. The Oaks prep, the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2), once more went to Good Cheer whereas they swapped colts on the Kentucky Derby (G1) path and took the $381,250 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes (G2) with First Resort .
“We’re blessed to have such a robust group of 2-year-olds, each fillies and colts,” mentioned Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan. “We really feel so excited to have them go ahead.”
Crew Godolphin celebrates First Resort’s Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes victory within the snow
A son of Uncle Mo  , First Resort confirmed promise early in his profession with a 3 1/2-length maiden victory at Ellis Park in July going 5 1/2 furlongs and a runner-up efficiency within the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Particular Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 10.
Entered for the Sept. 14 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, First Resort was scratched after drawing the rail.
“I used to be attempting to get him to discover ways to loosen up and charge,” coach Eoin Harty mentioned. “Popping out of the one gap, there’s just one approach to go. I did not wish to have him sit behind a wall of horses.”
Despatched to Woodbine that day as a substitute, he was entered on the turf within the one-mile Summer time Stakes (G1T), which Banahan known as an “experiment” to see if he may stretch out. He completed fourth, however connections had been happy sufficient to focus on the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Membership subsequent.
“He shipped rather a lot, so we wished to take a while off and level to this race,” Banahan mentioned. “We’re tremendous excited to have one other horse we will add on to our good group of 2-year-old colts with Sovereignty and East Avenue.”
He relaxed and rated to perfection Saturday as jockey Luis Saez settled him simply off Dapper Moon ‘s gentle fractions of :24.56, :49.30, and 1:13.63.
“We knew we wished a gradual tempo, however we managed the race,” Saez mentioned. “On the high of the stretch, we had loads of horse.”
Luis Saez on First Resort and proprietor Godolphin sweep the graded stakes for 2-year-olds Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs
Taking command getting into the stretch, First Resort drew off to an insurmountable lead approaching the ultimate furlong. Odds-on favourite Jonathan’s Approach , who received caught in site visitors on the far flip, made a late run however by no means threatened. First Resort hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear whereas stopping the clock in 1:43.01. He paid $14.66 to win.
The remainder of the highest 5 earned qualifying factors for the Might 3 Kentucky Derby on a 5-3-2-1 scale, with these factors being earned by Jonathan’s Approach, Tiztastic , Dapper Moon, and Render Judgment .
First Resort is the primary foal out of Godolphin’s grade 1-winning Avenue Boss mare Honest Maiden , who was additionally skilled by Harty. He’s the ninth graded winner this season by Uncle Mo, who will stand the 2025 season for $125,000 at Ashford Stud.
Video: Kentucky Jockey Membership S. (G2)
Good Cheer Untouchable Once more in Golden Rod
Saez was additionally aboard Good Cheer, who improved her document to 4-for-4 within the Golden Rod.
Simply as she did within the Oct. 27 Rags to Riches Stakes, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro   needed to overcome some bumping out of the gate and gradual fractions to emerge victorious. My Lil Punky slowed issues down Saturday with fractions of :24.31, :48.66, and 1:12.55.
“Any time you have got a filly that does not have an incredible quantity of early pace, tempo is regarding,” mentioned her coach Brad Cox. “I did not really feel like there was an incredible quantity of tempo on early, however she overcame it and she or he’s that good.”
Good Cheer took the lead from stablemate Eclatant on the quarter pole and by no means appeared at risk by means of the stretch regardless of an try from Quietside to chop into the margin. Good Cheer hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths away from Quietside and eight 1/2 lengths away from Eclatant in third. Sturgeon Moon and Flash Put on rounded up the ultimate Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying factors, which had been additionally awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Good Cheer wins the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs
Good Cheer paid $3.32 to win and accomplished the 1 1/16 miles, a distance at which she is now 3-for-3 whereas competing at Churchill Downs, in 1:43.26.
“She loves it right here (Churchill Downs), that is a optimistic transferring ahead,” Cox mentioned. “She’s in a position to flip for residence with horse, put the competitors away and gallop out properly. She’s an excellent filly.”
Like First Resort, Good Cheer is out of a grade 1-winning Godolphin homebred: Wedding ceremony Toast (Avenue Sense  ). She is the seventh graded stakes winner this 12 months for Medaglia d’Oro, who will stand the 2025 season at Godolphin’s Darley for $75,000.
Good Cheer and anticipated 2-year-old champion filly Immersive have now swept 4 of the seven Kentucky Oaks preps contested this 12 months for Cox and Godolphin.
“To have two very nice fillies going ahead in 2025—it is exceptionally fortunate for us to have the ability to try this,” Banahan mentioned.
