Volatile “freak-like” in Aristides romp.

Volatile couldn’t have been more impressive as he took the Aristides on his Stakes debut at Churchill Downs.

The Violence colt owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm displayed a truly devastating turn of foot to record a victory by eight lengths on Saturday, June 6.

Now a winner on four of his five starts he was confidently ridden by Ricardo Santana Junior who had the grey just off the early pace throughout. Straightening up for home it briefly looked as if the four-year-old might have to work for his win but after a shake of the reins, he exploded away from the field. With the race put to bed, Santana Junior eased his mount in the closing stages but still recorded a time just 0.2 seconds outside the track record.

“Obviously he’s a tremendous talent from a very significant family,” Said a visually delighted trainer Steve Asmussen post-race. “The second dam to him is Lady Tak, who was actually our first millionaire and an extremely significant horse to our stables development. He has her freak-like ability. She was the filly that won the Test and we’re hoping off the back of this he shows the same affinity to the Saratoga course that she did. We are definitely expecting to step him up to Graded Stakes Company from here.”

Volatile was awarded a Beyer figure of 112 for the victory the highest posted over the weekend.