Major Fed closes late to win '21 debut at Churchill Downs

Louisville, Ky.

Major Fed, 10th in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, found his best stride late to win an entry-level allowance going 1 1/16-miles at Churchill Downs on Friday.

Running for trainer Greg Foley, the 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper returned for his 2021 debut after recovering from an injury sustained when getting cast at Fair Grounds this winter. It was his first race since September of 2020, when he finished second in allowance company.

“He’s a good horse,” Foley said after the race. “Always has been.”

Starting from the rail in the seven-horse field under Florent Geroux, Major Fed was not a factor early as he dropped toward the back of the pack. Rounding the far turn, the colt was still bringing up the rear.

Foley said he would have preferred to see more from Major Fed early on.

“We didn’t have a very good trip,” Foley said. “He was just bottled up all the way around there, you would have liked to have had a lot cleaner, easier trip.”

Any fears that the 4/5 favorite might disappoint disappeared in the stretch as Geroux took him to the outside and made a run in the nick of time, beating second-place finisher Motagally by three-quarters of a length.

Fractions for the race were 23.61, 47.62, 1:12.12 and 1:36.71. Major Fed’s winning time on a fast track was 1:42.96.

“He kicked home good,” Foley said. “Passed this step and hopefully have a good rest of the year with him.”

The trainer said he had no certain destination in mind for Major Fed’s next race.

“I don’t know,” Foley said. “If we were to run him back here at Churchill or wherever, I’d probably go in a two-other-than but we’ll figure out a spot for him.”

Surly Furious rounded out the trifecta. Major Fed returned $3.60 for the win.