Hot Springs wins Commonwealth Turf, and he'll 'keep getting better'

Woodford Racing’s 3-year-old colt Hot Springs pulled away from front-running Marzo inside the final sixteenth of a mile and held off a late run by Zero Gravity to win Saturday’s 15th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths.

Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Hot Springs trailed the field of seven 3-year-olds on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf race as Marzo maintained a 1 ½-length advantage after setting early fractions of :24.81, :49.64 and 1:14.72. Hot Springs, still last at the top of the stretch, found an opening along the inside lane and shifted out sharply with a furlong to run to get clear running in the stretch.

Hot Springs proved much the best and stopped the teletimer in 1:46.97 over the “yielding” course. 

Hot Springs is a son of Uncle Mo out of the Victory Gallop mare Magical Victory and was bred in Kentucky by Bo Hirsch. The four-time winner returned $5.80, $3.80 and $3.20 as the 9-5 second betting choice. Zero Gravity, at 15-1 outsider with Adam Beschizza up, paid $12.40 and $7.20. Marzo, ridden by Albin Jimenez, finished another 1 ½ lengths back in third and paid $6 to show.

Reride, slight 9-5 favorite March to the Arch, Sniper Kitten and Year of the Kitten completed the order of finish. 

Hot Springs netted $60,760 for his victory and now boasts career earnings of $248,480 in seven career starts. Each of his four wins have come on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course, including a one-length score in September’s $100,000 Jefferson Cup (Listed).