Ry’s the Guy got his first stakes victory and also set the 1 1/2-mile track record in Tuesday’s $115,000 Champions Day Marathon S. at Churchill Downs to kick off Derby Week.
The 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor won the Marathon in front-running style, drawing off in the lane to win by 4 3/4-lengths in 2:29.58 on a fast main track, besting the track record of 2:30.42 set last year in this same race.
“He ran good. I can’t fault anything he did,” said trainer Ian Wilkes. (Jockey) Chris (Landeros) rode him good. It’s hard to know where you are going to be in races like this, so the main thing I told Chris was to just let him slide down the backside and not push him. He did a perfect job. He let him come off the bridle a bit and that helped him.”
Owned by Lothenbach Stables, Ry’s the Guy placed second in last year’s Dueling Grounds Derby and was making his first main track start in over 15 months. Tuesday’s win upped his record to 3-3-2 in 15 starts and earnings to $356,769.
Ry’s the Guy was bred in Kentucky by Tenth Street Stables, LLC.
Pedigree Notes from the TDN
Ry’s the Guy is the 157th stakes winner for veteran stallion Distorted Humor. His dam Sleepytime, a European Highweight and Group 1 winner, also produced GSWs Gentleman’s Deal and Hathal, as well as SW Dame Ellen.
