Further Ado
| Further Ado | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Gun Runner |
| Grandsire | Candy Ride (ARG) |
| Dam | Sky Dreamer |
| Damsire | Sky Mesa |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | March 15, 2023[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Chestnut |
| Breeder | John C. Oxley |
| Owner | Spendthrift Farm |
| Trainer | Brad H. Cox |
| Record | 8: 4 - 1 - 1 |
| Earnings | US$1,446,958[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2025) Blue Grass Stakes (2026) Matt Winn Stakes (2026) | |
| Last updated on June 7, 2026 | |
Further Ado (foaled March 15, 2023) is a Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2026 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Background
Further Ado is a chestnut colt who was bred in Kentucky by John Oxley out of the Grade III-placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer.[3] John Oxley had bought Sky Mesa as a yearling at the 2001 Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. As a two-year-old Sky Mesa won the 2002 Grade I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack.[4] The dam, Sky Dreamer (foaled January 23, 2009) was also bred by John Oxley and ran all of races in Woodbine except for the one start in the US, at Arlington Park in the Grade III Arlington Oaks where she finished second to La Tia.[5]
Further Ado was initially purchased by George Mellon in the fall of 2024 at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale for $275,000. He in turn sent the juvenile to the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training on consignment to Six K's Training & Sales who sold him to Spendthrift Farm for US$550,000.[3]
Further Ado's sire is Gun Runner who stands at Three Chimneys Farm for US$250,000 in 2026.[3]
Further Ado is trained by US Champion trainer Brad H. Cox.
Statistics
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jul 26, 2025 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 2.45 | 8 | 5 | 1:11.87 | (3+1⁄2 lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [6] | |
| Aug 30, 2025 | 7 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 4.60 | 8 | 3 | 1:23.63 | (6+1⁄4 lengths) | Luan Machado | [7] | |
| Oct 10, 2025 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Maiden Special Weight | Keeneland | 2.24 | 7 | 1 | 1:43.52 | 20 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [8] | |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes | II | Churchill Downs | 0.71* | 7 | 1 | 1:43.33 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [9] |
| 2026 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Mar 7, 2026 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Tampa Bay Derby | III | Tampa Bay Downs | 2.00 | 9 | 2 | 1:43.23 | (3⁄4 length) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [10] |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Blue Grass Stakes | I | Keeneland | 0.85* | 7 | 1 | 1:49.58 | 11 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [11] |
| May 2, 2026 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 5.05* | 18 | 11 | 2:02.27 | (7+3⁄4 lengths) | John R. Velazquez | [12] |
| Jun 7, 2026 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Matt Winn Stakes | III | Churchill Downs | 0.69* | 8 | 1 | 1:41.26 | 2 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [13] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Further Ado was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
| Sire Gun Runner (2013) |
Candy Ride (ARG) (1999) |
Ride the Rails (1991) |
Cryptoclearance (1984) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herbalesian (1969) | |||
| Candy Girl (ARG) (1990) |
Candy Stripes (1982) | ||
| City Girl (ARG) (1982) | |||
| Quiet Giant (2007) |
Giant's Causeway (1997) |
Storm Cat (1983) | |
| Mariah's Storm (1991) | |||
| Quiet Dance (1993) |
Quiet American (1986) | ||
| Misty Dancer (1988) | |||
| Dam Sky Dreamer (2009) |
Sky Mesa (2000) |
Pulpit (1994) |
A.P. Indy (1989) |
| Preach (1989) | |||
| Caress (1991) |
Storm Cat (1983) | ||
| La Affirmed (1983) | |||
| To Dream About (2004) |
Monarchos (1998) |
Maria's Mon (1993) | |
| Regal Band (1987) | |||
| Beautiful Pleasure (1995) |
Maudlin (1978) | ||
| Beautiful Bid (1984) (family 19-b)[14] |
References
- ^ a b "Pedigree of Further Ado". Equineline. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ "Profile of Further Ado". Equibase. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c King, Byron (April 4, 2026). "Further Ado Rolls to Victory in Blue Grass Stakes; Brad Cox-trained colt secures his spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ "Sky Mesa - career Statistics". equibase. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ^ "2012 Arlington Oaks Grade 2 – (race 8)" (PDF). Equibase. July 21, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ "Chart for July 26, 2025 at Saratoga – (MSW Race 2)" (PDF). equibase.com. July 26, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ "Chart for August 30, 2025 at Saratoga – (MSW Race 6)" (PDF). equibase.com. August 30, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ "Chart for October 10, 2025 at Keeneland (MSW – race 8)" (PDF). www.equibase.com. October 10, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ "Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 29 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ "2025 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (Race 11)" (PDF). Equibase. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ "Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Grade 1 - (Race 11)". equibase. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ^ "CHURCHILL DOWNS - May 2, 2026 - Race 12 - Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve" (PDF). Equibase. May 2, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ "2026 Matt Winn Stakes - (Race 8)". Equibase. June 7, 2026. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Constantia – Family 19-b". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026.