Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) champion Built showcased his continued excellence with a 1½-length victory over 48-1 outsider Echo Again in Saturday’s $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (L) held at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky-bred Hard Spun son completed 6½ furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.28, guided by jockey Flavien Prat for trainer Wayne Catalano and owner Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
Starting from post 4, Built settled in third behind early leader Harrodsburg, who was making his first race appearance in 11 weeks after beating Built in the $275,000 Bango (G3) back in June. Harrodsburg led the field through a quick first quarter-mile at :22.28, closely pursued by Jack’s Promise. As they rounded the turn, Built smoothly maneuvered three-wide to seize the lead. After hitting the half in :44.69, Built pulled away decisively in the final stretch, holding off the late surge from longshot Echo Again.
This marks Built’s third stakes victory as a 4-year-old, adding to his wins in the Vanderbilt at Saratoga on July 25 and the Gun Runner (L) at Fair Grounds as a 2-year-old. The 3-5 favorite paid out $3.32 to win. Echo Again rallied from fourth to claim second place, finishing two lengths ahead of Dreaminblue in third. Following them were Jack’s Promise, Keep It Easy, and Harrodsburg. Cat On Time was eased shortly after the start and did not finish, while Here Mi Song was scratched prior to the race.
Out of the Curlin mare Sea Garden, Built now has seven wins from 15 starts, pushing his earnings to $883,146 with a $183,450 prize from this race. His next challenge will be the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Keeneland on October 31.
Last year’s Louisville Thoroughbred Society winner, Bentornato, also made waves by triumphing in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. The race honors the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, which opened in March 2021 as Louisville’s sole on-site wagering venue linked to Churchill Downs. The society offers private memberships and hosts special events; more details can be found at www.thelouisvillethoroughbredsociety.com.
Louisville Thoroughbred Society Quotes
Flavien Prat, jockey of Built: “He broke well today and was pretty eager heading into the backside but moved very easily. When I asked him in the stretch, he fought hard for me.”
Wayne Catalano, trainer of Built: “This was a perfect prep. He had been progressing well and showed it today. He’s had a slow break before, but was better this race. Now we just have to keep everything together for the big one—the Breeders’ Cup Sprint next month.”
This story was first published by Paulick Report on September 13, 2026.
Fan Take: Built’s dominant performance not only cements his status as a top sprinter but also raises anticipation for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Sprint, promising an exciting showdown. For horse racing enthusiasts, results like these highlight the depth of talent in the sport and the thrill of witnessing future champions in action.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
