Ragtime Lands First Graded Stakes Win in Dogwood

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Ragtime Lands First Graded Stakes Win in Dogwood
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Photo: Coady Media/Renee Torbit
Ragtime posts a 2 1/4-length victory in the Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs

Despite a slow start, Godolphin homebred Ragtime  rallied from sixth and drew clear in the stretch to win the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) by 2 1/4 lengths Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs.

After winning her first two career starts by a combined eight lengths in June and July at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Bill Mott saw enough to take a shot at the Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 2 at the Spa and Ragtime responded with another strong effort, finishing a close second to Kilwin . Given class relief Saturday, the daughter of Union Rags   took care of business to secure the first stakes win of her career in completing the seven-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies in 1:22.35 on a fast main track. 


Junior Alvarado was aboard for the win as Ragtime was sent off at about even money, returning $3.96 to win.

"She ran huge," Alvarado said. "Broke a little slow, relaxed and came with a big run."

Kenny McCarthy, Mott's veteran chief assistant in Kentucky, said Ragtime came into the race in top form.

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"She really ran a big race today," McCarthy said. "The team in New York did a great job with her before she came to Kentucky. Junior did a great job not to panic after breaking slowly. She was able to have a target to run at and finished up really well."

Racing for Highlander Training Center, longshot Strong State  rallied in the stretch to claim second, as the daughter of Tom's d'Etat   earned her first stakes placing. Delightful Claire , who entered off a runner-up finish in the Prioress Stakes (G3) Aug. 30 at the Spa, settled for third after leading into the stretch.

Out of grade 2 winner Burmilla, by Storm Cat, Ragtime is a half sister to grade 3 winner Snowbell, dam of stakes winner Twice as Sweet.

Video: Dogwood S. presented by Resolute Racing (G3)



Also Saturday at Churchill:

  • In the $269,000 Harrods Creek Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters, grade 2 winner Smoken Wicked  knocked down his second stakes win of the season by opening a clear advantage in the stretch and then holding off a late charge by Jimmy's Dailys  to secure a half-length score. Campaigned by Valene Farms and trained by Dallas Stewart, Smoken Wicked completed the seven furlongs in 1:21.73 under Brian Hernandez Jr.
  • Godolphin's reigning champion 2-year-old filly Immersive  led at every point of call to secure her first stakes win of 2025 in the $173,700 Seneca Overnight Stakes. Entered off a runner-up finish in the Coaching Club American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1) for trainer Brad Cox, the daughter of Nyquist   completed the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-old fillies in 1:42.64 under Florent Geroux.
  • In the $275,000 Bourbon Flight Stakes, Steve and Lance Kinross' Brotha Keny  put away two rivals in the 1 3/16-mile race for 3-year-olds to secure his first stakes win. Jose Ortiz was aboard. The son of Mo Town   entered off a third-place finish in the West Virginia Derby (G3) for trainer William Morey.