LRL: Pay Billy rediscovers winning ways
The 2025 Tesio winner rises to victory
Press release- February 27, 2026
This time last year, RKTN Racing’s Pay Billy was about to embark on a journey that would lead him to victory in Laurel Park’s Private Terms Stakes and Federico Tesio Stakes.
These victories established Pay Billy as the Mid-Atlantic region’s top three-year-old and earned him a spot in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field. After finishing seventh against some of the nation’s top sophomores, trainer Michael Gorham rested his leadership all summer.
That patience was rewarded in Friday’s seventh race at Laurel, a $56,000 allowance for children four and older, run over a one-turn mile to a second-wire finish.
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“He’s mellowed out a lot,” Gorham said. “He’s a big colt, and he doesn’t really behave like that. He does what you want him to do. In the paddock, for example, he’s completely relaxed.”
Pay Billy had to earn his winner’s circle photo with regular jockey Raul Mena on Friday. Favorite Indy Charges On set fast splits of 23.94 and 46.87 seconds while being chased by Quick to Accuse. Meanwhile, Mena urged Pay Billy to stay within the range of the pacers.
Indy Charges On parried every thrust from Quick to Accuse to open a two-length lead after six furlongs in 1:11.11, but Mena rode Pay Billy into clear space, and the stylish Bay unfurled his long stride.
Indy Charges On gave it a good try but Pay Billy wore him out and won by a few lengths in 1:37.44 on the fast track.
“He broke pretty sharp today, and [Mena] kept him closer,” Gorham continued. “He had to drive him around the corner a bit to keep him on pace, but he still finished strong once he straightened out.”
Quick to Accuse finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Indy Charges On. Hittheroadjak and Feeling Woozy followed. JD Factor scratched.
Pay Billy was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. A $38,000 yearling purchase, the bay colt was purchased as a juvenile by RKTN in April for $60,000.
The four-year-old colt is an unlikely half-brother to stakes-winning sprinter Espionage, out of Grade 3-winning sprinter Harlington’s Rose, of Harlington. Pay Billy’s second and third dams were also stakes winners.
Pay Billy has improved incrementally since returning from his hiatus. He finished sixth, beaten by just four lengths, in the $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes on November 22; placed third behind Maryland-bred champion Post Time in the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes on December 20; and took second place on February 5 as a first-time Lasix user with a high benefit.
Because Pay Billy no longer has terms, Gorham said a new stake may be in the works.
Pay Billy has won five of thirteen starts, earning $290,275.
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