Khaadem goes last to first in Woodford Stakes
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Irish-born Khaadem, at age 9, was the elder statesman of the field for the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Stakes for turf sprinters Saturday at Keeneland. In his third United States start in a globe-trotting career, the gelding is becoming a bit of a 'States' man, as well - or, at least, a Commonwealth man.
In his third start in Kentucky, Khaadem was a last-to-first neck winner of the Woodford - of which $100,000 of the purse is designated for Kentucky-breds as Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund incentives. Still, Khaadem, who is trained by Charlie Hills for Mrs. Fitriani Hay, pushed his earnings past $2.6 million with his 10th win from 42 career starts. His career includes two victories in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at the renowned Royal Ascot meeting,
Khaadem had made two prior trips to race on the European-style course at Kentucky Downs. He was extremely fractious in the paddock before the Grade 2 Turf Sprint in September 2024, and coping with American gate speed was a problem. He was off slowly and last of 12 early before rallying to finish second to Cogburn in a strong effort.
Hills sent him back to Kentucky Downs for the same race this year, and the gelding handled the break better, sitting in sixth in a full field after the opening quarter before ultimately finishing third.
"I think he’s been over here and he’s gotten used to it," Hills said. "He’s been training here in Kentucky and he’s just ticking over."
Indeed, rather than shipping to Europe and back, Hills opted to leave Khaadem in Kentucky. He has trained for the past several weeks on Keeneland's synthetic training track, a much quieter environment compared to the main track. The benefits showed on the biggest day of Keeneland's fall meet, as Khaadem walked around the paddock quietly on a loose shank.
"He’s gained confidence from being here," Hills said.
While Hills was confident in the preparations, he didn't feel good in the moments leading up to the Woodford, and the first hundred yards of the race. In order to prevent him from breaking flat-footed, it was hoped that Khaadem wouldn't have to stand in the gate too long - and he was the penultimate horse scheduled to be loaded in the field of eight. But then, with one horse to load, Arrest Me Red broke through the gate, and it took time for him to be brought back, examined, and re-loaded.
When the gates opened, Khaadem was off last under Frankie Dettori. To make matters more worrisome, Joe Shiesty, expected to press the pace of Doncho, was also a step slow at the start. Doncho got a relatively unpressured opening quarter of 21.95 seconds - fast, to be sure, but not as fast as the gelding can go, particularly on a very firm course on another summerlike day in Lexington. In a world-record 5 1/2-furlong performance this summer at Ellis Park, he ran an opening quarter in 21.61 seconds.
Dettori wasn't as worried, however.
"He fluffed the start, but it didn’t matter because he likes a target," he said.
Doncho got a bit of daylight on the tracking Governor Sam - the only 3-year-old facing the older horses - entering the far turn, but Governor Sam kept on, and the two set down to duel in earnest into the stretch. Governor Sam got his foe's measure and put a head in front near the furlong grounds - but then, as turf sprints often do, the race turned into a furious finish, with several rallying on the outside and appearing to have a good chance. It was Khaadem, in the seven-path in the final furlong, who came on best of all to be up by a neck over Script, with less than a length separating the top five.
Script was a head in front of Joe Shiesty, who was a head in front of Governor Sam. It was another head to Arrest Me Red in fifth. It was a length back to Outlaw Kid, who edged Doncho by a neck, followed by Charcoal.
The final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.18. Khaadem returned $8.54.
After a fine trio of starts in the Bluegrass State, Hill said Khaadem's next start will likely come in the Golden State. The gelding is now a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
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