Further Ado
American racehorse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Further Ado (foaled March 15, 2023) is a Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2026 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
| Further Ado | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Gun Runner |
| Grandsire | Candy Ride (ARG) |
| Dam | Sky Dreamer |
| Damsire | Sky Mesa |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | March 15, 2023[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Chestnut |
| Breeder | John C. Oxley |
| Owner | Spendthrift Farm |
| Trainer | Brad H. Cox |
| Record | 6: 3 - 1 - 1 |
| Earnings | US$1,146,328[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2025) Blue Grass Stakes (2026) | |
| Last updated on April 21, 2026 | |
Background
Further Ado is a chestnut colt who was bred in Kentucky by John Oxley out of the Grade III-placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer.[3] John Oxley had bought Sky Mesa as a yearling at the 2001 Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. As a two-year-old Sky Mesa won the 2002 Grade I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack.[4] The dam, Sky Dreamer (foaled January 23, 2009) was also bred by John Oxley and ran all of races in Woodbine except for the one start in the US, at Arlington Park in the Grade III Arlington Oaks where she finished second to La Tia.[5]
Further Ado was initially purchased by George Mellon in the fall of 2024 at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale for $275,000. He in turn sent the juvenile to the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training on consignment to Six K's Training & Sales who sold him to Spendthrift Farm for US$550,000.[3]
Further Ado's sire is Gun Runner who stands at Three Chimneys Farm for US$250,000 in 2026.[3]
Further Ado is trained by US Champion trainer Brad H. Cox.
Statistics
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jul 26, 2025 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 2.45 | 8 | 5 | 1:11.87 | (3+1⁄2 lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [6] | |
| Aug 30, 2025 | 7 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 4.60 | 8 | 3 | 1:23.63 | (6+1⁄4 lengths) | Luan Machado | [7] | |
| Oct 10, 2025 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Maiden Special Weight | Keeneland | 2.24 | 7 | 1 | 1:43.52 | 20 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [8] | |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes | II | Churchill Downs | 0.71* | 7 | 1 | 1:43.33 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [9] |
| 2026 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Mar 7, 2026 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Tampa Bay Derby | III | Tampa Bay Downs | 2.00 | 9 | 2 | 1:43.23 | (3⁄4 length) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [10] |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Blue Grass Stakes | I | Keeneland | 0.85* | 7 | 1 | 1:49.58 | 11 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [11] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Further Ado was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
| Sire Gun Runner (2013) |
Candy Ride (ARG) (1999) |
Ride the Rails (1991) |
Cryptoclearance (1984) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herbalesian (1969) | |||
| Candy Girl (ARG) (1990) |
Candy Stripes (1982) | ||
| City Girl (ARG) (1982) | |||
| Quiet Giant (2007) |
Giant's Causeway (1997) |
Storm Cat (1983) | |
| Mariah's Storm (1991) | |||
| Quiet Dance (1993) |
Quiet American (1986) | ||
| Misty Dancer (1988) | |||
| Dam Sky Dreamer (2009) |
Sky Mesa (2000) |
Pulpit (1994) |
A.P. Indy (1989) |
| Preach (1989) | |||
| Caress (1991) |
Storm Cat (1983) | ||
| La Affirmed (1983) | |||
| To Dream About (2004) |
Monarchos (1998) |
Maria's Mon (1993) | |
| Regal Band (1987) | |||
| Beautiful Pleasure (1995) |
Maudlin (1978) | ||
| Beautiful Bid (1984) (family 19-b)[12] |