Ultimate Champion produced the defining rally of the Shadwell Turf Mile, sitting ninth through the opening two calls before advancing to seventh and then sweeping past the field to win the Grade I event. The four-year-old captured the mile in 1:32.52 for owner/trainer Night Rider Stables and jockey Carmouche K, going off at just under 7-1. His late surge completed a dramatic reversal from the early stages of the race.

Race Recap

The $1,250.000 Shadwell Turf Mile – Grade I [BC], contested October 3, 2026 at Keeneland, brought together 14 three-year-olds and older horses for one mile over firm turf. Ultimate Champion prevailed over Magnum Opus, with Anna Anna Anna third and defending champion and post-time favorite Seven Is Lucky fourth. Jakarta completed the first five.

The race developed around Sioux Arrival, who established the lead immediately and remained there through each of the first three calls. Jakarta stayed directly behind him through those same stages, while King Z made an early advance from sixth to third. Neither Sioux Arrival nor King Z was able to sustain that position through the final stage.

Ultimate Champion followed an entirely different path. He was ninth at both the first and second calls and still had six horses ahead of him when he improved to seventh at the third. From there, his final advance carried him past every runner in front of him. Magnum Opus also made a productive late move, while Anna Anna Anna recovered after slipping from third to fifth through the first three calls.

The result was particularly significant for Ultimate Champion because his previous start had produced a nose defeat in the Grade I Woodbine Mile. He followed that performance by turning another Grade I mile into a victory.

The Running — Flow & Calls

First Call: Sioux Arrival established the lead, with Jakarta second and Anna Anna Anna third. Magnum Opus occupied fourth, American Nightmare was fifth and King Z sixth.

Nothing Like It followed in seventh, with Good Memories eighth and eventual winner Ultimate Champion ninth. Seven Is Lucky was tenth, Stylish Dime 11th, Ideal Candidate 12th, Be A Nice Boy 13th and Excavate 14th.

At this stage, Ultimate Champion was positioned well behind the early leader, while the first three consisted of Sioux Arrival, Jakarta and Anna Anna Anna.

Second Call: Sioux Arrival continued in front and Jakarta remained second. King Z made one of the first notable advances, moving from sixth to third. Anna Anna Anna slipped from third to fourth, while Magnum Opus moved from fourth to fifth.

American Nightmare dropped one position to sixth. Nothing Like It remained seventh, Good Memories stayed eighth and Ultimate Champion continued in ninth. Seven Is Lucky was still tenth, followed by Stylish Dime in 11th and Ideal Candidate in 12th. Be A Nice Boy remained 13th and Excavate continued at the rear in 14th.

The order at the front had therefore changed only modestly, with Sioux Arrival and Jakarta continuing to control the first two positions.

Third Call: Sioux Arrival still held the lead, making him the leader through all three calls. Jakarta remained second and King Z held third after his earlier advance.

Magnum Opus began to improve, moving from fifth to fourth. Anna Anna Anna slipped another position to fifth, while American Nightmare remained sixth.

Ultimate Champion now began his move, advancing from ninth to seventh. Good Memories remained eighth, while Nothing Like It dropped from seventh to ninth. Seven Is Lucky continued in tenth.

Stylish Dime remained 11th, Be A Nice Boy improved from 13th to 12th, Ideal Candidate dropped from 12th to 13th and Excavate was still 14th.

With one stage remaining, Ultimate Champion was seventh after having spent the first two calls in ninth, while Sioux Arrival had yet to surrender the lead.

Final Call: The entire complexion of the race changed. Ultimate Champion completed his rally from seventh and swept into first, having passed eight horses from his position at the second call.

Magnum Opus continued his own advance from fourth to finish second, while Anna Anna Anna rebounded from fifth to take third.

Seven Is Lucky generated a significant late move of his own. After sitting tenth through each of the first three calls, the post-time favorite advanced to fourth.

Jakarta, who had tracked Sioux Arrival from second through all three calls, finished fifth. Be A Nice Boy made substantial late progress as well, moving from 12th to sixth.

Excavate produced the largest positional gain during the final stage, rallying from 14th to seventh. Nothing Like It finished eighth after racing seventh, seventh and ninth.

The most dramatic reversal among the early leaders came from Sioux Arrival. After leading at every call, he fell to a dead heat for ninth with King Z. King Z had advanced from sixth to third and remained third at the next call before also finishing in that dead heat for ninth.

Good Memories dropped from eighth to 11th, Stylish Dime went from 11th to 12th and Ideal Candidate finished 13th after being 13th at the previous call. American Nightmare, who had been fifth and then sixth through the first three calls, fell to 14th.

The Shadwell Turf Mile ultimately belonged to the late movers. Ultimate Champion went from ninth to the winner’s position, while Seven Is Lucky moved from tenth to fourth, Be A Nice Boy from 12th to sixth and Excavate from 14th to seventh.

Each Runner Mentioned

Ultimate Champion — Remained ninth through the first two calls, advanced to seventh and then delivered the decisive rally to capture the race.

Magnum Opus — Raced fourth, fifth and fourth before moving into second at the finish, continuing the strong turf form that had produced his Mint Million victory in his previous start.

Anna Anna Anna — Began third, slipped to fourth and then fifth before responding in the final stage to secure third.

Seven Is Lucky — The post-time favorite was tenth through each of the first three calls before producing a strong late advance to finish fourth.

Jakarta — Raced second behind Sioux Arrival through all three calls before finishing fifth.

Be A Nice Boy — Sat 13th through the opening two calls, improved to 12th and then made a substantial late advance to finish sixth.

Excavate — Trailed the 14-horse field through all three calls before rallying sharply to seventh. His seven-position gain during the final stage was one of the more notable moves in the race.

Nothing Like It — Raced seventh through the first two calls, dropped to ninth and finished eighth.

Sioux Arrival — Controlled the race through each of the first three calls before dropping sharply during the final stage and finishing in a dead heat for ninth.

King Z — Advanced from sixth to third at the second call, held third at the next call and then dropped into the dead heat for ninth.

Good Memories — Remained eighth through each of the first three calls before finishing 11th.

Stylish Dime — Held 11th through all three calls and completed the race in 12th.

Ideal Candidate — Raced 12th through the opening two calls, dropped to 13th and remained there at the finish.

American Nightmare — Began fifth, raced sixth through the next two calls and then dropped to 14th.

About The Winner

Ultimate Champion’s victory raised his lifetime record to five wins from 19 starts, with three seconds and one third, and increased his lifetime earnings to $1,272.770. His 2026 record now stands at four victories and one second from seven starts, and his turf record mirrors his lifetime record because all 19 of his starts have come on turf.

Ultimate Champion is a four-year-old bay gelding by Championship Rounds out of Sensation(5), bred in New York by Mb Stables and currently owned and trained by Night Rider Stables. His lifetime earnings stand at $1,272.770.

Track: Firm
Time: :22⁴  :46  1:09¹  1:32²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 12 Paid 561.90
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 12 – 4 Paid 1,607.50

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES