Stark Contrast reaped the benefits of staying on the grass rather than running in the Kentucky Derby (G1) later on the May 2 card at Churchill Downs when he won the $999,750 American Turf Stakes (G1T) in decisive fashion.
The Michael McCarthy trainee broke sharply under jockey Flavien Prat and sat midpack behind pacesetter Street Beast and Honey Dutch, who posted fractions of :23.20, :47.13, and 1:10.58. Stark Contrast continued to race under a confident hold down the backstretch, and on the far turn, he was sent outside and began gaining on the leaders. As they hit the stretch, he hit the front and opened up on his rivals, crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths the best. The bay colt finished the 1 1/16-mile turf race in a final time of 1:40.31, and as the post-time favorite, he paid $4.40 for a $2 wager.
"My only instructions were to get him in a good spot," Prat said. "I did that. He's a good horse; he's a very good horse."
A homebred for Amerman Racing, the 3-year-old son of Caravaggio ran second to Fulleffort in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and earned 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby. His connections pondered running in the Derby or the American Turf, but opted for his preferred surface. Two years ago, they weighed the same options with 2024 Jeff Ruby winner Endlessly, whom they ended up running in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished ninth.
"This horse is very, very good," McCarthy said. "Even if he had won the Jeff Ruby, I think we still would have participated here. It just feels good when a plan comes together at the end, especially on a big day like today, where the competition is so tough."
Cherie DeVaux trainee Remember Mamba came with an outside run, but was not able to collar the leader and had to settle for second. Whit Beckman's Honey Dutch, who was part of the early pace, faded to third.
Stark Contrast now has four wins from seven starts, and earned his first grade 1 win in his second attempt in such company. Last October, he finished a narrow second to Gstaad in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), his only other top-level start. All his win have come over the grass, and his connections plan to continue to race him on that surface.
"I can't tell you how highly I thought about this horse," McCarthy said. "He got a little sick on us over the winter. We were able to reroute and go to the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Flavien speaks for himself and he gave him a great trip. Mr. and Mrs. Amerman are not here today but I really wish they were."
The winner of the American Turf earned an automatic wild card entry into the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
