Rhetorical Delivers Life-Changing Win in the Coolmore Turf Mile

With Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, Rhetorical (Not This Time) provided trainer Will Walden with his first Grade I victory, sealing a story of redemption and perseverance in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland

Irad Ortiz Jr. and Mission Accomplished With Rhetorical at Keeneland / KEENELAND

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Life often gives second chances. In racing, when talent meets perseverance, those chances can turn into triumphs. That was exactly the case Saturday at Keeneland, as Rhetorical (Not This Time–Sheet Humor, by Distorted Humor) produced a dazzling late run to capture the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes, providing trainer Will Walden with the first Grade I win of his career—and perhaps one of the most emotional victories of the season.

Carrying the colors of Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable, and piloted with precision by Irad Ortiz Jr., the New York-bred surged past Program Trading (Ire) (Lope de Vega) to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:33.61 over firm turf. It was the colt’s sixth win in seven starts, boosting his bankroll to $824,700 and, more importantly, earning a “Win and You’re In” berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar Nov. 1.

The race was hotly contested from the break, with Quatrocento (War Front) setting fractions of :22.40 and :46.07 while tracked by Howard Wolowitz (Munnings) and Epic Ride (Blame). Rhetorical enjoyed a perfect trip, settled in fourth and in the clear, Ortiz biding his time until straightening for home. Once set down in the lane, the dark bay quickened sharply, sweeping past in the final furlong to hold off Program Trading, with Brilliant Berti (Noble Mission {GB}) closing for third.

“It was perfect,” Ortiz said. “He broke so well and I got exactly the spot I wanted. He relaxed, and when I asked, he responded big. Will (Walden) had him ready. I’m so happy for him, because I know how hard he has worked to get here.”

For Walden, the victory carried a weight beyond racing. The son of the late Eddie Walden, he grew up in the shadow of Taylor Made Farm but faced difficult years battling addiction. It was Frank Taylor who gave him another chance, bringing him into Stable Recovery, a program dedicated to rehabilitation and second chances within the industry.

“I had ruined my reputation,” Walden admitted, fighting back emotion. “No one was going to give me a horse, and I don’t blame them. But Frank reached out, invested in me, and gave me a shot. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. To win my first Grade I with a son of Not This Time, bred at Taylor Made, it’s just perfect. This is for everyone who believed.”

The victory was both redemption and validation. “This horse had been training really well, but we knew it was a huge challenge,” Walden added. “Irad executed the plan exactly. This is for the team, for the guys who are out there every morning. Today is theirs.”

Favored Diego Velázquez (GB) (Frankel {GB}) failed to fire, finishing fifth after looming briefly in the stretch. Jonquil (Ire) (Lope de Vega) checked in fourth, while Quatrocento, Howard Wolowitz and Epic Ride faded after contributing to the early fractions.

For Ortiz, it was his second Coolmore Turf Mile following his 2022 score aboard Annapolis (War Front), further cementing his status as the most influential rider on the circuit. For Walden, it was something far greater: a personal and professional milestone at the highest level, born from redemption.