Yellow Card prevails in thrilling blanket finish to take Twin Spires Turf Sprint

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The cards fell in Yellow Card's favor this time. With nothing thrown in his path, he was up by a neck in a four-horse thriller at the finish line in the Grade 2, $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Yellow Card ($7.80), a 5-year-old by Lost Treasure trained by Michael McCarthy for James Danelli, was coming off a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes four weeks ago at Keeneland, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in an effort that could have at least been a closer margin with a clean trip. Yellow Card was pinched back and steadied down the backstretch of the Shakertown, losing several lengths; he came wide and in an extended drive to be second.

This time, not only was McCarthy hoping for a cleaner trip, he was confident in the horse's training, watching him thrive, particularly in cooler weather in Kentucky this week. Although he is a Grade 2-placed stakes winner in California, Yellow Card had enjoyed his past forays to Kentucky, winning an allowance at Churchill Downs in his only prior run on this turf course, and recording multiple graded stakes placings including a second by a neck to Howard Wolowitz in the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs in 2024.

"I was feeling very confident," McCarthy said. "He has trained well here over the last couple of weeks. Unlucky to get beat at Keeneland. He trained well here, had a very good breeze the other week. I was hoping to get a cleaner trip today, and we were fortunate to get that."

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Joe Shiesty, a multiple stakes winner at Churchill who enjoyed an outstanding winter at Turfway Park, finished fifth in the Shakertown after setting the pace. He again showed the way in the Twin Spires, crossing over the field from an outside draw to establish a clear lead through the opening quarter-mile in 22.39 seconds. Yellow Card was in contention throughout under Flavien Prat, this time securing a clear stalking spot in second, just a head ahead of the pressing Litigation, with Full Disclosure also up in contention. Joe Shiesty continued to lead through a half in 44.69 seconds, and actually kicked away by 1 1/2 lengths as the field turned into the stretch. But Yellow Card, between horses at Litigation also revved up, continued to try through the lane, and they reeled in the clear leader in the final stages, with Shakertown winner My Boy Prince also rallying.

At the wire, Yellow Card edged a dead game Joe Shiesty by a neck, with Litigation another head back in third. He held that placing by a nose over millionaire My Boy Prince.

The time for the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf rated firm on a brisk but clear first Saturday of May in Kentucky was 1:02.20.

After the top four, it was just three-quarters of a length to Possiblemente, who was followed, in order, by Mondogetsbuckets, Full Disclosure, Bear River, Its Bourbon Thirty, and Wendelssohn.

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