Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable, and Windmill Manor Farm's Verstappen made his graded stakes debut a winning one Saturday when he posted a head victory over millionaire Red Knight in the Elkhorn (G2) going 1½ miles on the grass at Keeneland.
“He went back to Turfway Park last night where he had trained all winter,” said Paul Madden, assistant to trainer Brendan Walsh.
Verstappen, who in 2021 was a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by Stripes Stable from consignor Eaton Sales, gave jockey Declan Cannon his first Keeneland stakes victory. Cannon has ridden Verstappen in his past four starts, scoring three victories aboard the War Front gelding and a runner-up finish.
A possible next start for Verstappen could be the $225,000 Louisville (G3) to be run May 20 at Churchill Downs at 1½ miles on the turf.
“Now that we know he can run with those horses, races like that will be in play,” Madden said.
The Elkhorn marked the graded stakes debut for Verstappen, whose first stakes appearance came in his start prior to that in the Kentucky Cup Classic, in which he finished rallying second, March 25 on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park.
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