Repole Stable’s Final Score sprinted from the gate to lead quickly and set a pressured, then left rivals behind late in the Keeneland stretch as he surged clear in the $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds on Sunday.

Sent off the favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr., Final Score won by about 1 1/4 lengths while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.51 on turf rated as firm and returned $4.82. The victory marked his third consecutive following a last-out triumph for trainer Todd Pletcher in the With Anticipation (G3) Aug. 28 at Saratoga and his maiden-breaking win Aug. 10 at the Spa.

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Case Cielo, a 19-1 longshot, applied pressure to the outside of Final Score down the backstretch and looked to get his head in front momentarily at the half-mile mark. He was still pressing from second through six furlongs but ultimately weakened in the lane and faded to last of 12 runners.

Final Score entered the stretch with a one-length lead from Turf Star, who was in closest pursuit after stalking third and fourth. That rival appeared trapped on the rail through the final furlong, but Tyler Gaffalione found an opening with a sixteenth to run and sent him through, but it was too late to catch the winner.

Gordon Pass rallied from next to last to take third.

“He showed speed before but not this kind of speed,” Ortiz said of Final Score. “I thought it was a little more speed than he would have in the race. I thought we were going to be right behind the speed, but he broke so good and put me in a good position without asking too much. I had talked to the trainer (Todd Pletcher) and he said, ‘If he’s on the lead, fine; let him go.’

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“He went a little faster than I wanted, but he got the job done. He deserves a lot of credit. He was a little aggressive going into the first turn, but on the backside he switched off really nice. After that, I just bided my time turning for home. Then when we were in the straight, I asked him to go and he gave me a good turn of foot.”

Fractions on the race were :22.51, :47.69, 1:12.89 and 1:36.46 through one mile.

The Bourbon Stakes is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) Oct. 1 at Del Mar, and Final Score, a Not This Time colt, earned an automatic fees-paid berth into the one-mile event.

Final Score’s overall record stands at 3-1-0 from four starts and 397,550 in purse earnings. He was a $600,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, where Taylor Made Sales Agency presented him.

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BG Stables bred Final Score in Kentucky from the Bernardini mare Precious Dixie.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Oct 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.