Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Credit Kurtis Coady
Churchill Downs Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Woodslane Farm’s 7-year-old homebred gelding Wolfie’s Dynaghost won his first start under trainer Brian Lynch as he led every step of the way under Luis Saez in the 46th running of the $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, winning by 2 ¾ lengths Take candy to the deployment in record time.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost clocked 1 1/8 miles on “firm” turf with the rails 10 feet out in 1:45.58. Lately, Dr. Kashnikow’s record of 1:47.90 from 2001 and came within .07 of She Feels Pretty’s course mark of 1:45.51 earlier this year.
“He’s an old pro and knows what it’s all about,” Lynch said. “We’ve been fortunate to see him perform here in Kentucky and his last few performances have been really good. Luis has given him a great ride.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost, who had campaigned in the East with trainer Jonathan Thomas, went straight to the front of the field of 11 older horses, rattling off blistering splits of :22.79, :46.22, 1:09.59 and 1:33.39 with Corruption follow in second place, from a length to 1 ½ lengths behind. Around the final turn, Wolfie’s Dynaghost opened a 3 ½ length lead as 2025 stakes winner Taking Candy, Lagynos And Trader started to close, but the frontrunner never weakened and rode home for the win.
“I could see from the fence how sharp he was,” Saez said. “I just wanted to let him run and not take him off his game. I knew he was going fast, but that’s what he likes to do. He ran a big race for me today.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost returned $27.68, $14.44 and $7.76 as the 12-1 sixth betting pick. Taking Candy, also at 12-1 under Axel Concepcion, paid $10.66 and $5.56. It was another length and a half back to Mercante under Joe Ramos and Lagynos with Corey Lanerie aboard, who finished in third place paying $4.54 and $3.22 respectively.
Corruption, Four hundred2-1 favorite On the hunt for the Crown, Tapit shoes, Encino, Mount Rundle And English Channel completed the order of finishing. Epic Ride, which had a Friday benefit, was scratched.
The win for Wolfie’s Dynaghost was worth $175,700 and increased his earnings to $1,230,347. He has a record of 13-3-5 in 31 starts.
This was Wolfie’s Dynaghost’s sixth stakes victory. As a four-year-old he won the $121,000 Bert Allen at Colonial Downs and then won the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park; $129,618 fall (grade II) at Woodbine; and $120,199 Prairie Bayou back at Turfway during his 5-year-old season in 2023. He raced just once in 2024, but returned in June to win $125,000 Prince George’s County at Laurel Park, his second start after the layoff.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost is a son of Ghostzapper, winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic, out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire and was bred in Kentucky by Rene Woolcott’s Woodslane Farm.
“He ran a bit like his father Ghostzapper,” Lynch said. “He has been a very well-managed horse throughout his career and he still has a lot of fight left in him.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost’s upset victory helped generate a single winning ticket payout from the Derby City 6 Jackpot of a healthy $354,833.
HILLERITO HANGS HEAD TO R DISASTER AND WINS $287,500 DREAM SUPREME
Hilleritoowned and trained by David Jacobson, overcame a tough start, collared pacer R Disaster He left the turn and then reversed a courageous re-rally from the early leader deep into the turn to win Saturday’s 20th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) at Churchill Downs in diminishing returns.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, 5-year-old mare Hillerito ran six furlongs in 1:09.56 to earn her first stakes win. It was her sixth win in eight career starts and the $183,450 first prize took her winnings to $384,751. Hillerito also has two seconds, including a second attempt One magical Philly during her previous start on Oct. 11 at Keeneland in a 6 ½ furlong allowance/optional claiming event.
“Normally she comes out of the gate very quickly, but today she was a little slow,” Gaffalione said. “I let her get her feet back under her and she shot home nicely.”
Hillerito was expected to run at or near the lead, as she had in each of her previous seven starts, but the mare went to her knees as the gate opened and she drifted out to the right, leaving her in fourth position. Instead it was the odds-on 1-2 favorite R Disaster, winner of the Gallant Bloom (Grade II) at Aqueduct in her previous start, who led the cast of six fillies and mares through an opening quarter mile in :22.29 with Jersey pearl chasing her in and Hillerito a few lengths back in the clear and now in third place.
Around the turn, Hillerito made the first move with a three-wide run and took the lead after half a mile: 45.08. She sprinted clear to a 2.5 length lead at the top of the stretch, but R Disaster did not give up. She even threatened to regain the lead from Hillerito with a powerful kick in the middle of the track, but fell short as the photo finish was revealed.
“I think the slow start helped us a little bit with the pace development,” Jacobson said. “It ultimately gave us the extra jump we needed.”
Hillerito, the third betting pick from 9-2, returned $11.98, $4.72 and $3.10. R Disaster, led by Jose Ortiz, paid $2.44 and $2.10. Jersey Pearl, with Francisco Arrieta leading, was another 4 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $3.58 to show. Halina’s Forte, Mink’s Palace And Sudden switch completed the order of finishing. Marmalade Skye, Taliesin, Tapit Quick and Top were scratched.
Hillerito is a daughter of Army Mule out of the War Front mare Revelle’s Echo and was bred in Kentucky by Theta Holding 1 Inc.
The Dream Supreme is named after the six-time stakes winner who won the 2001 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs. Dream Supreme, trained by Bill Mott, won two Class I sprints in her 16-race career and earned $1,007,680 between 1999 and 2001.
RIVER CITY QUOTES
Luis Saez, Jockey, Wolfie’s Dynaghost (winner): “I could see from the start how sharp he was. I just wanted to let him run and not take him off his game. I knew he was going fast, but that’s what he likes to do. He rode a big race for me today.”
Brian Lynch, Trainer, Wolfie’s Dynaghost (winner): “He’s an old pro and knows what it’s all about. We’ve been fortunate to see him perform here in Kentucky and his last few performances have been really good. Luis gave him a great ride. He ran a bit like his father Ghostzapper. He’s been a very well-managed horse throughout his career and he still has a lot of fight left in him.”
DREAM SUPREME QUOTES
Tyler Gaffalione, Jockey, Hillerito (winner): “Normally she comes out of the gate really fast, but today she was a little slow. I let her get her feet back under her and she bolted home nicely.”
David Jacobson, owner/trainer, Hillerito (winner): “I think the slow start helped us a little bit with developing the pace. It gave us the extra bounce we needed at the end.”
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