Stark Contrast Bypasses Kentucky Derby, Wins American Turf
Stark Contrast, trained by Michael McCarthy, won the GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs, defeating Honey Dutch and Remember Mamba. The horse, ridden by Flavien Prat, finished the 1 1/16 miles on the lawn in 1:40.31, just a few ticks off the course record.
Stark Contrast, trained by Michael McCarthy, won the GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. The horse, ridden by Flavien Prat, was sent off as the 6-5 favorite and broke smoothly before settling midpack. Stark Contrast swung wide, shook free of the rest, and set his sights on the leader, Honey Dutch. He barreled down the stretch on his wrong lead, went right by Honey Dutch, and held off a flying-too-late Remember Mamba by 2 1/4 lengths. The win was Stark Contrast's first Grade I score, finishing the 1 1/16 miles on the lawn in 1:40.31. Honey Dutch held for third. Stark Contrast is an Amerman homebred and is sired by Caravaggio, the leading European first-crop sire of 2021.
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