EDITED CHURCHILL DOWNS PRESS RELEASE
LOUISVILLE, KY—Wathnan Racing’s Florida-bred Cagliostro pressed the pace three-wide down the backstretch, put away 8-5 favorite Extra Anejo in upper stretch and turned back a late run by Tumbarumba to win Sunday’s $279,875 Hanshin presented by JRA at Churchill Downs.
Cagliostro, who broke through to collect his first stakes win, prevailed by a length and clocked one mile over a fast track in 1:34.87. Flavien Prat rode the winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Breaking from post seven in the field of nine older horses, Cagliostro tracked three-wide outside of pacesetters Zozos and Extra Anejo, who ran the first quarter mile in :23.09 and the half in :46.09. Zozos, the defending Hanshin champ, checked out just past the half-mile marker while in tight quarters down along the rail.
Cagliostro, who cut back in distance after running second to Highland Falls in the mile-and-an-eighth Blame (Grade 3) on June 1, put away Extra Anejo nearing the three-sixteenths pole and spurted clear in the stretch. Louisiana-bred graded stakes-winner Tumbarumba put in his usual late charge but could not get to Cagliostro.
Tumbarumba finished another length back in second with Raise Can third. Three Technique, Charge It, Happy American, Extra Anejo, Frosted Grace and Zozos completed the order of finish. Best Actor and Injunction were scratched.
“He had a really strong performance today,” Prat said. “It was the first time I rode him and he’s a very talented colt and had a nice kick home.”
The first prize was $163,680 and hiked Cagliostro’s bankroll to $436,668 with a record of three wins, four seconds and a third in 11 starts.
“We thought the cut back in distance would really suit him today to keep him and Pyrenees separated from running against one another in the Stephen Foster,” DeVaux said. “It worked out very well with Pyrenees running second in the Foster. We’re very happy for our entire team and this ownership group.”
Cagliostro paid $10.44 to win.
Cagliostro is a Florida-bred son of Upstart out of the Hard Spun mare A Rosefor Isabelle who was bred by Lance Colwell and Janice Clark. Caliostro is the only starter in three foals for A Rosefor Isabelle, who has an unraced 2-year-old filly, Hey Finch, by Bucchero. She was bred to City of Light in 2023.
DeVaux as an agent purchased Cagliostro for $385,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Two Oaks Equine.
— Brock Sheridan contributed to the this article