Who were the leading connections, top horses at Keeneland’s Fall Meet?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The 17-day Fall Meet at Keeneland ended Oct. 25.
- There were 22 stakes races run during the Fall Meet.
- The meet’s leading jockey was Irad Ortiz, Jr. and the leading trainer was Brad Cox.
Another record-setting Fall Meet at Keeneland is in the history books.
The Lexington track posted a season-best $217,266,759 in all-sources wagering during this year’s Fall Meet, which featured 17 days of racing and ran from Oct. 3 through Saturday.
That all-sources wagering figure — which excludes whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland — topped the previous record from last year’s Fall Meet by more than $7 million.
The average daily race purse of $1,341,107 also set a Keeneland record.
Here are the other notable moments from this year’s Fall Meet at Keeneland.
Who were the leading owner, jockey and trainer at Keeneland’s Fall Meet?
Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. cruised to the Fall Meet leading rider title, securing 25 wins over the 17 days of racing. Among those triumphs were four stakes race victories. This is Ortiz’s second title as the leading jockey at Keeneland, following the 2024 Spring Meet.
Behind Ortiz in the leading jockey standings this fall were Tyler Gaffalione (17 wins), Jose Ortiz (16 wins) and Luis Saez (15 wins).
The performance of 53-year-old Hall of Famer John Velazquez was also noteworthy. Velazquez, who first rode at Keeneland in 1994, was aboard 13 winners during the Fall Meet, a mark that included five race victories on Oct. 4 alone and seven stakes race wins overall.
The seven stakes victories matched a record set during the 1998 Fall Meet by fellow Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day.
Brad Cox took home the leading trainer title with a come-from-behind effort Saturday, the final day of the meet. Cox won two races to up his meet-long total to 12 victories, one ahead of both Steve Asmussen and Brendan Walsh.
This is Cox’s eighth Keeneland leading trainer title. Cox and Walsh shared the leading trainer title at this year’s Spring Meet.
All-time, the battle for the trainer with the most wins at Keeneland remains tight. Rusty Arnold has sent out 309 winners at the Lexington track while Bill Mott has saddled 308 winners.
Spendthrift Farm cruised to the leading owner title with six winners from eight starters during the Fall Meet. Spendthrift also co-owned a seventh winner.
Which horses, connections won stakes races at 2025 Keeneland Fall Meet?
In all, 22 stakes races were held at Keeneland during the Fall Meet. Combined, they were worth a record $10.85 million, led by the Grade 1, $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile that was run Oct. 4 and won by Rhetorical.
Here are the complete results from these 22 stakes contests:
Horses are listed along with their jockeys, trainers, owners and breeders, in that order.
Grade 1, $650,000 Darley Alcibiades on Oct. 3: Tommy Jo (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, Spendthrift Farm homebred). Tommy Jo was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup NetJets Juvenile Filles.
Grade 2, $400,000 Jessamine on Oct. 3: Imaginationthelady (Lanfranco Dettori, Brendan Walsh, Mark Dobbin, Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables). Imaginationthelady was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Grade 2, $400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix on Oct. 3: Nakatomi (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Wesley Ward, Qatar Racing and Fitriani Hay, Arnold Zetcher and Crestwood Farm). Nakatomi was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup Cygames Sprint.
Grade 1, $1.25 Million Coolmore Turf Mile on Oct. 4: Rhetorical (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Will Walden, Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable, Mallory Mort and Karen Mort). Rhetorical was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup FanDuel Mile.
Grade 1, $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 4: Ted Noffey (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, Spendthrift Farm, Aaron and Marie Jones). Ted Noffey was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup FanDuel Juvenile.
Grade 1, $800,000 First Lady on Oct. 4: Simply in Front (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally, Colebrook Farms, William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo).
Grade 2, $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America on Oct. 4: Praying (John Velazquez, Robert Medina, Newtown Anner Stud Farm, Jeff Kerber). Praying was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup PNC Bank Filly and Mare Sprint.
Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford on Oct. 4: Khaadem (IRE) (Lanfranco Dettori, Charlie Hills, Fitriani Hay, Yeomanstown Stud). Khaadem was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup Prevagen Turf Sprint.
Grade 1, $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster on Oct. 5: Gin Gin (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh, Calumet Farm homebred). Gin Gin was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Grade 2, $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon on Oct. 5: Final Score (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher, Repole Stable, BG Stables).
Listed, $300,000 Indian Summer on Oct. 5: Schwarzenegger (John Velazquez, Wesley Ward, Mrs. John Magnier, Mountmellick Farm, Brook T. Smith and Resolution Road Stables, Frankfort Park Farm). Schwarzenegger was pre-entered into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Grade 2, $400,000 Sycamore on Oct. 10: Desvio (John Velazquez, Madison Meyers, Stonelea Stable and Bonnie Rye Stable, Eliza St George and Lee Mauberret).
Grade 1, $800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 11: Lush Lips (GB) (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M. V. Magnier, The Pocock Family).
Grade 2, $400,000 Franklin on Oct. 12: Time to Dazzle (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, Tracy Farmer, Dr. Rodney Orr ).
Grade 2, $400,000 Lexus Raven Run on Oct. 18: Kappa Kappa (John Velazquez, Robert Reid Jr., LC Racing, Cash is King and Wellesley Stable, Stone Jug Ranch).
Grade 3, $350,000 Perryville on Oct. 18: Barnes (Jose Ortiz, Bob Baffert, Zedan Racing Stables, Jeff Drown and Don Rachel).
Grade 3, $350,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager on Oct. 19: Venencia (FR) (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Jim Cone, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Team Hanley and Cambron Equine, Patricia Laffon Lomba, Ines Laffon Lomba and Fernando Laffon Lomba).
Grade 2, $400,000 Bank of America Valley View on Oct. 24: Admit (John Velazquez, Thomas Drury, Jr., Claiborne Farm homebred).
$250,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood on Oct. 24: A Fine Chardonnay (Tyler Gaffalione, Ian Wilkes, Double 22 Stables, Alpha Delta Stables).
$250,000 Bowman Mill on Oct. 25: Gallivant (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook, LNJ Foxwoods homebred).
Grade 3, $600,000 Bryan Station on Oct. 25: Troubleshooting (Tyler Gaffalione, Greg Foley, Donamire Farm homebred).
Grade 3, $350,000 Hagyard Fayette on Oct. 25: Hit Show (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brad Cox, Wathnan Racing, Gary and Mary West Stables).
Thorpedo Anna retires after racing at Keeneland
One of the top horses in recent history ran her final race during Keeneland’s Fall Meet.
Thorpedo Anna — the 2024 Horse of the Year and the winner of the 150th Kentucky Oaks in May 2024 at Churchill Downs — was a noncompetitive fourth out of five runners in the Grade 1, $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster on Oct. 5.
This proved to be the final race of Thorpedo Anna’s illustrious career. Her trainer, Kenny McPeek, announced Oct. 15 that Thorpedo Anna would be retired from racing and begin her broodmare career at Hill ’n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa in Paris.
Thorpedo Anna finished her racing career with more than $5.4 million in career earnings and 10 victories in graded stakes races. She owns a career record of 12 wins from 16 starts. Thorpedo Anna finished out of the money in only two of those 16 starts. Her racing career began two years ago with a victory by 8½ lengths in a maiden special weight race at Keeneland.
A 20% share of Thorpedo Anna will be auctioned Oct. 29 during Keeneland’s Championship Sale at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Del Mar is hosting this year’s Breeders’ Cup, which takes place Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Keeneland debuts new Paddock Building, saddling stalls at 2025 Fall Meet
Patrons who visited Keeneland during the 17-day Fall Meet got a look at several new features at the track following one of the biggest construction projects in the track’s history.
Highlighting these new amenities were a reimagined saddling paddock with centralized saddling stalls, a new jockey quarters and a new ceremonial winner’s circle for stakes races. A new East Gate entrance also exists as part of a newly constructed Paddock Building.
This Paddock Building is the most eye-catching part of Keeneland’s largest capital project. The three-level building wraps around the previous Paddock and walking ring.
Other enhanced race-day features are on the way at Keeneland, such as ticketed dining inside the new Paddock Building. That’s expected to be available in the spring.
Keeneland Fall Meet includes two horse deaths from racing incidents
This year’s Fall Meet at Keeneland featured two horse deaths from racing incidents that occurred on consecutive days early in the meet. Gotta Lotta Tempo, a 2-year-old filly who was a first-time starter, died Oct. 10. Another 2-year-old that was making its racing debut, Cielo, died the next day following an on-track incident.
Both horses had the same sire, Maclean’s Music.
According to Horse Racing Nation, Keeneland reported five horse deaths during the Spring Meet earlier this year. Three of those deaths were from racing incidents.
This means at least five horses died at Keeneland this year from racing incidents. This would make 2025 the deadliest year for horses at Keeneland since 2019.
