Rhetorical
Former winner Program Trading (2024) was among the beaten runners, finishing fourth. Out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, the winner is the third different Group 1 winner this season for his sire Not This Time.
United States of America
Churchill Downs · 02.05.26
Watch the racePurse€1,242,500
To the winner€732,200
Distance1810 metres
Winning time1m 45.96s
SurfaceTurf · Firm
Conditions4-year-olds and up
Runners9
Stories of this Result
Rhetorical
Irad Ortiz Jr
Irad Ortiz Jr has now won this race 4 times, a record for a jockey since 1987. With this win, the jockey moved to 4 Group 1 wins this season, 10 wins behind leader James McDonald in the 2026 jockeys' table.
Watch the race
Wire2Wire - Horse Racing · English commentaryResult
9 runners · prize money to 4th placePosHorseJockey · TrainerMarginPrize
5thMercante6yo gelding by Gun Runner × CaressingJoseph RamosBrian Knippenberg
Pedigree of the winner
Connections
Rhetorical in 2026
1 other win · 1 placeTrainer / Jockey / Track
Turf Mile Stakes1609 metres · €878,7001stWilliam WaldenIrad Ortiz Jr03.10.2026KeenelandPrize money €691,961Race detailsWatch
Maker's Mark Mile1609 metres · €444,8003rdWilliam WaldenIrad Ortiz Jr10.04.2026KeenelandPrize money €57,114Race detailsWatch
All winners since 2020
| Year | Winner | Trainer / Jockey | Owner / Breeder | Video | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Spirit Of St LouisMedaglia D'oro × Khancord Kid | Chad C BrownManuel Franco | Madaket Stables Llc, Dubb, Michael And Schermerhorn, RichardChester Broman & Mary R Broman | ||
| 2024 | Program TradingLope De Vega × Dreamlike | Chad C BrownFlavien Prat | Klaravich StablesFittocks Stud & Arrow Farm & Stud | ||
| 2023 | Up to the MarkNot This Time × Belle's Finale | Todd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr | Repole Stable & St. Elias StableRamspring Farm | ||
| 2022 | SantinDistorted Humor × Sentiero Italia | Brendan P WalshTyler Gaffalione | GodolphinGodolphin | ||
| 2021 | Colonel LiamLiam's Map × Amazement | Todd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr | Lawana & Robert LowPhillips Racing Partnership | ||
| 2020 | Digital AgeInvincible Spirit × Willow View | Chad C BrownJavier Castellano | Klaravich StablesMerry Fox Stud Limited |
History since 1987
Turf Classic Stakes40Editions since 1987
3Multiple winnersEinstein, Wise Dan, Divisidero
0%Won by fillies or mares0 of 41 · 0 of the last 20
1:45.96Fastest winning timeRhetorical · 2026
Record holders
Most wins since 19871Chad C BrownTrainer · 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 20255 wins
2Irad Ortiz JrJockey · 2019, 2021, 2023, 20264 wins
2Lemon Drop KidDamsire · 2016, 2017, 2020, 20254 wins
4Klaravich StablesOwner · 2020, 2021, 20243 wins
Multiple winners
Won this race more than once1Einstein2008, 20092 wins
1Wise Dan2013, 20142 wins
1Divisidero2016, 20172 wins
Show all 41 winners since 1987Hide the list
| Year | Winner | Trainer / Jockey | Owner / Breeder | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | RhetoricalNot This Time × Sheet Humor | William WaldenIrad Ortiz Jr | Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable & Wachtel StableMallory Mort & Karen Mort | 3.50 | |
| 2025 | Spirit of St LouisMedaglia d'Oro × Khancord Kid | Chad C BrownManuel Franco | Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Richard SchermerhornChester Broman & Mary R Broman | 4.33 | |
| 2024 | Program TradingLope de Vega × Dreamlike | Chad C BrownFlavien Prat | Klaravich StablesFittocks Stud & Arrow Farm Stud | 4.50 | |
| 2023 | Up to the MarkNot This Time × Belle's Final | Todd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr | Repole Stable & St. Elias StableRamspring Farm | 4.00 | |
| 2022 | SantinDistorted Humor × Sentiero Italia | Brendan P WalshTyler Gaffalione | GodolphinGodolphin | 8.00 | |
| 2021 | Domestic SpendingKingman × Urban Castle | Chad C BrownFlavien Prat | Klaravich StablesRabbah Bloodstock | 7.00 | |
| 2021 | Colonel LiamLiam's Map × Amazement | Todd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr | Lawana & Robert LowPhillips Racing Partnership | 2.40 | |
| 2020 | Digital AgeInvincible Spirit × Willow View | Chad C BrownJavier Castellano | Klaravich StablesMerry Fox Stud | 9.60 | |
| 2019 | Bricks and MortarGiant's Causeway × Beyond the Waves | Chad C BrownIrad Ortiz Jr | Klaravich Stables & William H. LawrenceGeorge W. Strawbridge Jr. | 2.00 | |
| 2018 | YoshidaHeart's Cry × Hilda's Passion | Bill MottJose L Ortiz | China Horse Club, WinStar Farm & Head of Plains PartnersNorthern Farm | 7.50 | |
| 2017 | DivisideroKitten's Joy × Madame Du Lac | William BradleyJulien Leparoux | Gunpowder FarmsHinkle Farms | 4.50 | |
| 2016 | DivisideroKitten's Joy × Madame Du Lac | William BradleyEdgar Prado | Gunpowder FarmsHinkle Farms | 16.00 | |
| 2015 | Finnegans WakePowerscourt × Boat's Ghost | Peter MillerVictor Espinoza | Donegal Racing & Rockingham RanchJerry Crawford | 5.50 | |
| 2014 | Wise DanWiseman's Ferry × Lisa Danielle | Charles LoPrestiJohn R Velazquez | Morton FinkMorton Fink | 1.50 | |
| 2013 | Wise DanWiseman's Ferry × Lisa Danielle | Charles LoPrestiJose Lezcano | Morton FinkMorton Fink | 1.60 | |
| 2012 | Little MikeSpanish Steps × Hay Jude | Dale RomansJoe Bravo | Priscilla VaccarezzaCarlo E. Vaccarezza | 13.00 | |
| 2011 | Get StormyStormy Atlantic × Foolish Gal | Thomas M. BushRamon Domínguez | Sullimar StablesMary A Sullivan | 8.50 | |
| 2010 | General QuartersSky Mesa × Ecology | Thomas R. McCarthyRafael Bejarano | Thomas R. McCarthyMr. & Mrs. R. David Randal | 9.80 | |
| 2009 | EinsteinSpend A Buck × Gay Charm | Helen Pitts-BlasiJulien Leparoux | Midnight Cry StableFazenda Mondesir | 2.80 | |
| 2008 | EinsteinSpend A Buck × Gay Charm | Helen Pitts-BlasiRobby Albarado | Patricia Cunningham & Melissa GreeneFazenda Mondesir | 3.20 | |
| 2007 | Sky ConquerorSky Classic × Heavenly Ballerina | Darwin D. BanachJavier Castellano | William A. Sorokolit, Sr.William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 9.00 | |
| 2006 | English ChannelSmart Strike × Belva | Todd PletcherGarrett Gomez | James T. ScatuorchioKeene Ridge Farm | 4.50 | |
| 2005 | America AliveAmerican Chance × Alive With Hope | Neil J. HowardRobby Albarado | Mill House StableMill House | 19.00 | |
| 2004 | StrollPulpit × Maid For Walking | Bill MottJerry Bailey | Claiborne FarmClaiborne Farm | 6.00 | |
| 2003 | Honor in WarLord At War × Catumbella | Paul J. McGeeDavid Flores | 3rd Turn StablesMill Ridge Farm Ltd & W Lazy T Ltd | ||
| 2002 | Beat HollowSadler's Wells × Wemyss Bight | Robert FrankelAlex Solis | JuddmonteJuddmonte | 2.60 | |
| 2001 | White HeartGreen Desert × Barari | Neil DrysdaleGary Stevens | Gainsborough FarmsGainsborough Stud Management Ltd | 7.00 | |
| 2000 | ManndarDoyoun × Madiriya | C. Beau GreelyCorey Nakatani | Columbine Stable, Jay M. Jones & Tom NicholsAga Khan Studs | 6.00 | |
| 1999 | Wild EventWild Again × North Of Eden | Louis M. GoldfineShane Sellers | Arthur I. AppletonArthur I. Appleton | 7.00 | |
| 1998 | Joyeux DanseurNureyev × Fabuleux Jane | Albert Stall Jr.Robby Albarado | B. Wayne HughesGainesway Thoroughbred Ltd | ||
| 1997 | Always a ClassicDeputy Minister × No Class | Mark FrostadJerry Bailey | Sam-Son FarmSam-Son Farm | ||
| 1996 | MeckeMaudlin × Beautiful Bid | Emanuel TortoraPat Day | James R. Lewis Jr.Farnsworth Farms (Mike Sherman) | ||
| 1995 | RomarinItajara × Salluca | Richard MandellaCorey Nakatani | Linneo Eduardo de Paula MachadoHaras São José e Expedictus | ||
| 1994 | Paradise CreekIrish River × North of Eden | Bill MottPat Day | Masayuki NishiyamaBertram R. Firestone | ||
| 1993 | LureDanzig × Endear | Claude R. McGaughey IIIMike E Smith | Claiborne FarmClaiborne Farm & the Gamely Corp. | ||
| 1992 | CudasSeattle Song × Aspern | Richard J. LundyPat Valenzuela | Allen E. PaulsonAllen E. Paulson | ||
| 1991 | Opening VerseThe Minstrel × Shy Dawn | Richard J. LundyChris McCarron | Allen E. PaulsonJacques D. Wimpfheimer | ||
| 1990 | Ten KeysSir Ivor Again × Miss Fleet Ardan | Michael V. PinoKent Desormeaux | Charles LinhossRichard Bendit | ||
| 1989 | EqualizeNorthern Jove × Zonta | Angel Penna Sr.José Santos | Alejandro MenditeguyTartan Farms | 1.50 | |
| 1988 | Yankee AffairNorthern Fling × My Malchen | Henry L. CarrollPat Day | Jujugen StableDerry Meeting Farm | ||
| 1987 | ManilaLyphard × Dona Ysidra | LeRoy JolleyJacinto Vásquez | Bradley M. ShannonEduardo Cojuangco, Jr. | 1.40 |
Source: G1Stars meeting database – winners, connections, times and starting prices as recorded. Group 1 grading began in 1971.
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