First Dominus stakes winner captures $350K KY Downs Juvenile

All Right may have entered the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile a maiden but emerged as Dominus’ first stakes winner with a game neck victory in the seven-furlong turf contest for 2-year-olds.

The winner propelled Dominus into the top five on the 2016 First-Crop Sire list and is now one of six winners by the Spendthrift stallion.

After the 12-horse field sorted itself out in the first furlong, All Right found himself in a clear second behind Cold Snack Thirty. The top two maintained their positions until the top of the stretch, when All Right took over the lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Parlor made a big run for the top spot in the final furlong, but All Right had plenty left to secure the win (VIDEO).

“It was sort of a last-minute decision,” said trainer Kellyn Gorder. “We looked at it and said it was only $750 to enter, ‘Let’s take a look.’ This horse is so well-balanced that I thought he really would handle the up and down of this course. I galloped this horse about a month ago, and hadn’t been back on him. I rode him three days ago. I came back into the barn and I don’t usually tout horses. I said, ‘It’s going to be fun to win a maiden for $350,000.’ “

Gorder said he didn’t know what was next, but that the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park is something on their radar.

All Right, who was second in his Ellis Park debut on Aug. 14, has now earned $214,090 for owner Bill Helwig and Brent Gasaway following the big payday.

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Jon and Patience Jazdzewski.