No Catching Wolfie's Dynaghost in River City Stakes

Wolfie's Dynaghost shares similarities with his graded stakes-winning millionaire half-brother, Sadler's Joy, but running style isn't one of them. While Sadler's Joy, a son of Kitten's Joy, was known for his late kick, a style he used to win the 2017 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) among other graded events, Wolfie's Dynaghost is most effective when he flaunts his speed. It works for him, a point on display when he went gate to wire in the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) Nov. 8 at Churchill Downs. Clipping off blistering splits in the 1 1/8-mile turf race of :22.79, :46.22, 1:09.59, and 1:33.36, the 7-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper sustained his run to the wire, crossing the finish 2 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Taking Candy in 1:45.58. His time was just.07 off the course record set by multiple grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty earlier this year. "And look, he ran like his father today," trainer Brian Lynch said. "He looked like Ghostzapper coming down the lane." A Hall of Fame racehorse and highly accomplished sire, Ghostzapper led from start to finish in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), among other races. Winding down his stallion career, he stood in 2025 for a private fee at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada. A versatile gelding with victories on dirt, synthetic, and turf, Wolfie's Dynaghost won for the 13th time in 31 starts for owners/breeders Rene and Lauren Woolcott of Woodslane Farm. The River City was his sixth stakes victory and second at the graded level. He has earned $1,230,347. Saturday was his first outing for Lynch, who praised the care and condition of the gelding when he arrived in his barn this fall after being under the care of trainer Jonathan Thomas. Lynch captured the River City for a second time after striking with Heart to Heart in 2015. Jockey Luis Saez said he wanted Wolfie's Dynaghost to "be happy" running freely. "It was one of the fastest races I ever rode. But I just let it run because he was doing it so comfortably," he added. Wolfie's Dynaghost paid $27.68 for a $2 win wager. Taking Candy rallied to grab second but was never a threat to the winner. Mercante and Lagynos also closed to finish in a dead heat for third. Favored Chasing the Crown never fired in finishing a non-threatening seventh. Hillerito Upsets R Disaster in Dream Supreme A half hour before the River City, slow-starting Hillerito shot past graded stakes winner R Disaster leaving the turn, and fended off a bid from that resurgent rival to win the $287,500 Dream Supreme Stakes by a head. Another graded stakes winner, Halina's Forte, was fourth behind third-place Jersey Pearl. Hillerito, a 5-year-old dark bay or brown mare by Army Mule, tallied her first stakes victory in her black-type debut, timed in 1:09.56 for six furlongs on a fast main track. She had been 5-2-0 in seven starts in the maiden and allowance ranks before the Dream Supreme. She paid $11.88 to win. Bred by Theta Holding out of the War Front mare Reveille's Echo, Hillerito joined the stable of owner/trainer David Jacobson midway through this year after racking up three wins from four starts while racing at Mountaineer Park and Belterra Park for owner Jerry Jamgotchian and trainer Eric Reed. Army Mule will stand next season at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky for $25,000.