First Resort (Uncle Mo) showcased an exceptional performance beneath Luis Saez, holding off the late rally from the heavily favored Jonathan’s Way (Vekoma) to claim victory in Saturday’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. With this win, First Resort amassed 10 crucial points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Versatility on Display

Off to a promising start from his outside draw under the lights, the homebred First Resort found himself in an ideal second-place position by Saez, pressing the pace just outside the longshot leader Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon). Saez then hit the gas on the far turn, and First Resort responded brilliantly, seizing the lead three furlongs from home. The 6-1 chance cornered for home with determination, opening up an imposing advantage in the final furlong and continuing to power forward to win by an impressive 2 1/4 lengths.This wasn't the first time First Resort had shown his mettle. A debut winner as the favorite in the Ellis mud on July 5, he set a pressured pace and was a solid second in the GII Saratoga Special Stakes on August 10. Last time out on September 14, he switched to grass and finished fourth in the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine. Now, making his two-turn debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club, he proved his adaptability and talent.Trainer Eoin Harty, who was winning his first graded race in nearly four years after saddling First Resort’s dam to win the 2020 GI La Brea Stakes, was full of praise. “He displayed his versatility today trying two turns for the first time,” said Harty. “Initially, I thought he’d be a little farther back, but after I saw the opening quarter I realized why he was there. He’s a very talented colt and his mother wasn’t as mentally sound as he seems to be. He was bred to be a good one and he really is. It’s fun working with the generations of families with Godolphin. I’ll speak with the team over the next couple of days and come up with a plan for him going into next year. It’s very exciting to have a colt of this caliber.”Luis Saez added his perspective, saying, “We were in a perfect spot early in the race. In his dirt races he was on the lead, but he was able to track just off the leader today with the pace being pretty slow. Turning for home I could feel I had a lot of horse beneath me. He really took off down the lane and I could tell the further this horse goes it will be better.”

Pedigree Insights

Uncle Mo has now left his mark with 57 graded/109 stakes winners worldwide. Street Boss, the broodmare sire, has produced three graded/14 stakes winners. The Harty-trained Godolphin homebred Fair Maiden upset the 2020 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita and came within a neck of capturing the previous year’s GI Natalma Stakes over the Woodbine lawn. First Resort is her first foal and is also responsible for an Into Mischief filly of 2023. She was bred to Flightline for 2025. First Resort’s second dam and two-time winner Shieldmaiden brought $875,000 from John Ferguson at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. His fourth dam is the GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Status (A.P. Indy).First Resort earns 10 points on the Road to the #KyDerby! pic.twitter://twitter.com/jbRRcqNj1s— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 30, 2024In this thrilling race, First Resort not only demonstrated his racing prowess but also added to the rich history of Godolphin at Churchill Downs. His victory was a testament to the hard work and talent of the entire team involved.