Brian Hernandez Jr. celebrates winning the 31st running of the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf atop Walkathon at Kentucky Downs in Franklin on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.(Grace Ramey McDowell/grace.ramey@bgdailynews.com)

FRANKLIN – It was a big day for jockey Frankie Dettori at Kentucky Downs.

Dettori picked up three victories, the biggest aboard Bellum Justum to claim the $3.1 million, Grade 3 DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational – one of three stakes races during Saturday’s card in Franklin.

Bellum Justum took control in mid stretch and was able to pull away for a 2¼ length victory. According to Dettori, it was a strong finish after a less than ideal start.

“He absolutely flubbed the start,” Dettori said. “I was way too far back, but lucky Jamie (Spencer, on Navy Seal) was so fast. On this track, on the back straight, I was able to make a good improvement to get a slot, because I knew he would stay very well. I had a beautiful slot, no matter the circumstances. I sent him top of the straight to the 2 1/2 (5/16th of a mile) and I knew he’d gallop to the line. Because he stays a mile and a half.”

Local connection Terry Finley, a Bowling Green resident who is founder and president of West Point Thoroughbreds, saw his horse Carson’s Run rally down the stretch to edge Rothschild and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez by a nose for second.

“It’s all good, we were just second best, we had a perfect trip and he rode him as well as a rider could ride him,” Finley said. “I would tell the stakes coordinator to stop going to Ireland and Europe, please.”

Rothschild co-owner Tom Ryan praised his horse’s performance.

“(Trainer) Tim Yakteen did a good job prepping this horse,” Ryan said. “Tim really had confidence in him. He was 30-1 on the board. That horse ran out of his skin. He beat some good horses there. I think the important thing is he showed us he’s a good horse. That’s just his second start off a layoff. There’s a pretty high ceiling with this horse. We’re excited.”

Finley and West Point had another near winner in the $1.5 million Exacta Systems Ladies Turf Sprint with Dontlookbackatall unable to run down Ag Bullet. Bullet set the course record for 6 ½ furlongs winning by 5 ½ lengths in a time of 1:14.19.

The win was the perfect present for jockey Umberto Rispoli, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Saturday.

“She’s absolutely fast,” Rispoli said. “I mean, she is a kind of versatile filly. Today was absolutely no chance at all to grab a step back and sit behind. She broke well, which sometimes she doesn’t. She’s very special. It worked out really well. We went to the lead. She was happy all the way and I was happy to let her run.”

Dontlookbackatall jockey Joel Rosario said Ag Bullet was just too much on Saturday.

“She kept moving,” Rosario said. “She ran a big race. My horse ran a big race, but that filly just went wire to wire in a fast time.”

In Saturday’s final stakes race, the $1.5 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, Walkathon earned a three-length victory over Sacred Wish.

“She ran super,” Walkathon trainer Ian Wilkes said. “This was the race we were aiming for. We ran her at Churchill and then at Ellis with this in mind. She put her best step forward today, which was super.”

It was Walkathon’s third straight stakes victory with jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. guiding the way.

“Ian had this race mapped out for a while now,” Hernandez said. “When she broke so sharp and got to the turn, she skipped over a couple of the tougher spots around and she didn’t bobble at all. I said, ‘Oh, man, this is great.’ She was so comfortable, and I was so close to the rail that nobody else had made it over to that path today. She just zipped around there the whole way.”

Saturday’s card featured a total of 11 races. The seven-day meet is scheduled to continue on Sunday.{&end}