Photo Credit ( Keeneland Photo)
EXINGTON, KY (Oct. 5, 2024) – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ favored Carl Spackler (IRE) went straight to the lead after the start and then held off a late bid from More Than Looks to post a 1-length victory in the 39th running of the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up to win the richest race in Keeneland history.
Other Grade 1 winners on the 11-race program were Gina Romantica in the 27th running of the $750,000 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare for fillies and mares and East Avenue in the 111th running of the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders Futurity for 2-year-olds.
Also capturing stakes on the sun-splashed afternoon were Zeitlos in the 44th running of the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares and Our Shot in the 28th running of the $350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel for 3-year-olds and up.
In the Coolmore Turf Mile, Carl Spackler provided trainer Chad Brown with his 50th Keeneland stakes victory and first in the race. For jockey Tyler Gaffalione, it is his 30th Keeneland stakes victory and second in the race, having won in 2018 with Next Shares.
Carl Spackler outraced Talk of the Nation and Spirit of St Louis to the first turn and set comfortable fractions of :23.93 and :47.28. On the far turn, Carl Spackler began to open up on the field, hit the top of the stretch in complete control and had more than enough to hold off More Than Looks’ belated bid. He completed the mile in 1:34.23.
With the victory, Carl Spackler earned a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF to be run Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In winning his second consecutive Grade 1 race, Carl Spackler added $589,000 to his earnings that increased to $1,568,475 with a record of 10-7-1-0. He is a 4-year-old son of Lope de Vega out of the More Than Ready mare Zindaya.
Carl Spackler returned $4.14, $3 and $2.36. More Than Looks, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.92 and $2.70 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Mountain Bear (IRE), who paid $4.64 to show under Chris Hayes.
It was another neck back to Running Bee with Spirit of St Louis, Kikkuli (GB), Cash Equity (FR), Talk of the Nation and Noises Off following in order.