Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s will stand at WinStar

Two Phil’s, who finished a close second in this year’s Kentucky Derby, will stand the 2024 breeding season at WinStar Farm. A son of Grade 1 winner Hard Spun, Two Phil’s retires with five wins from 10 career starts and earnings of $1,583,450. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.

Bred in Kentucky by Phillip Sagan and owned in partnership by Sagan, Patricia’s Hope and Madaket Stables, Two Phil’s concluded his racing career with three consecutive performances recording triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures from Daily Racing Form. The Larry Rivelli-trained runner ran a 101 Beyer in overpowering his rivals by 5 1/4 lengths in the Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park in March. He earned a 105 Beyer in finishing second by just a length in the Kentucky Derby and equaled the 105 Beyer in a dominating 5 3/4-length win in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown in his final career appearance.

“We have been looking for a Danzig-line horse that meets our standard of physicality, pedigree and race record for some time now,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “I think Two Phil’s could have been the best 3-year-old in the country if his career had not been cut short after his dominant win in the Ohio Derby with a 5 Ragozin, 105 Beyer, and a negative 3/4 on Thorograph. However you look at it, he is top class.”

Two Phil’s guaranteed himself a spot in the starting gate for the 2023 Kentucky Derby with a convincing victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, emulating his sire who also won the traditional Kentucky Derby prep 16 years earlier when it was named The Lane’s End (G2). Winning under wraps, Two Phil’s covered the distance in 1:49.03.

In the Kentucky Derby, Two Phil’s delivered an exceptional effort and once again followed in the footsteps of his Classic-placed sire, Hard Spun, who finished second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Two Phil’s rated just behind the brutal early fractions of 22.35 and 45.73 seconds and angled to the two path entering the lane. He surged to the front in the stretch before being caught in the final strides by Mage. Despite being headed by Mage close to home, Two Phil’s fought to the wire to finish a clear second from a hard-charging Angel of Empire, who finished third.

In the Ohio Derby (G3) in June, Two Phil's rallied three wide around the far turn of the 1 1/8-mile fixture, making the lead near the quarter-pole. He quickly opened a clear advantage and drew off through deep stretch to win easily in 1:49.60, defeating Bishop’s Bay, who was previously second by a head to subsequent Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo in the Peter Pan (G2) in May.

A well-traveled and versatile horse who did not need to take his racetrack with him, Two Phil’s came out running at 2. He broke his maiden in his second lifetime start at Colonial Downs, winning a six-furlong maiden special event in front-running fashion in the fast time of 1:09.79. Two Phil’s captured the six-furlong Shakopee Juvenile Stakes at Canterbury Downs in his next outing, crushing his rivals in a hand ride by 9 3/4 lengths. He brought the curtain down on his freshman season with a runaway 5 1/4-length triumph in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, giving him three wins from five starts as a juvenile.

“From the time he came into my barn at 2, Two Phil’s was a standout,” said Larry Rivelli. “He is the best horse I have ever trained, and I look forward to his babies.”

Among his esteemed sire’s lifetime leading earners and his chief earner in 2023, Two Phil’s is produced from the multiple stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed General Quarters mare Mia Torri, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed River Rocks and stakes-placed Go Gator Girl Go and an earner of $314,720.