{"id":466646,"date":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/466646\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","slug":"big-saturday-ahead-for-griffin-johnsons-new-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/466646\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Saturday Ahead for Griffin Johnson\u2019s New Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest stories in horse racing over the past year has been the emergence of social media content creator Griffin Johnson<\/a> as one of the sport\u2019s most active and passionate ambassadors. Johnson first burst on the scene around a year ago after he became a part-owner of Sandman<\/a>, a talented 2-year-old colt who flashed potential in the fall and winter of 2024. Johnson signed up with America\u2019s Best Racing\u2019s \u201cA Stake in Stardom\u201d program offering ownership interests in racehorses to influencers, and he became hooked quickly after meeting the gorgeous gray and watching his talent develop.<\/p>\n

Sandman ended up fulfilling expectations this year at age 3, winning the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, running in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and finishing third in the Preakness Stakes.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s journey with Sandman captivated millions and introduced many Gen Z-ers to horse racing. But it was just the beginning. Now, through his association with West Point Thoroughbreds, Johnson has an ownership stake in two more talented 2-year-olds \u2013 and wouldn\u2019t you know it, both of them are racing this Saturday!<\/p>\n

Ewing<\/a> is expected to start in the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders\u2019 Futurity<\/a> at Keeneland Race Course<\/a> in Kentucky, while Curtain Call is set for a start in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes<\/a> at Aqueduct (called Belmont at the Big A<\/a> this fall) in New York.<\/p>\n

These are very prestigious and important races for two reasons. First, they are \u201cWin and You\u2019re In\u201d Challenge Series preps for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders\u2019 Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance<\/a>, which will be held on Oct. 31 at Del Mar<\/a> in California. The Breeders\u2019 Cup Juvenile usually determines which 2-year-old male racehorse is voted champion for his racing year \u2026 so if either Ewing or Curtain Call earn a berth in the Juvenile this Saturday and then win that race, they\u2019ll probably become a champion!<\/p>\n

Equally important, both the Breeders\u2019 Futurity and the Champagne are early prep races for next year\u2019s Kentucky Derby<\/a> May 2 at Churchill Downs<\/a>. The winner of each of these races will earn 10 qualifying points for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, and horses finishing second through fifth will earn less points. Banking some Kentucky Derby points this early in the prep race season will be very beneficial for either colt as their owners (including Johnson) plot out their training and prep race schedule in the months ahead.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s learn a little bit about both of these talented prospects:<\/p>\n

Ewing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Named after the Hall of Fame NBA center<\/a> who patrolled the paint for the New York Knicks in the 1980s and 1990s, Ewing is 2-for-2 so far. Both of his wins came at Saratoga<\/a>\u00a0in upstate New York over the summer in sprint races held at 5 \u00bd furlongs and 6 \u00bd furlongs (there are eight furlongs \u2013 each 220 yards \u2013 in a mile). His race prior to Saturday\u2019s start in the Breeders\u2019 Futurity came in the Saratoga Special Stakes<\/a>, which he won by a length. \u00a0<\/p>\n

This precocious colt is already a stakes winner, but the Breeders\u2019 Futurity is a Grade 1 stakes \u2013 the highest level. It\u2019s also held at 1 1\/16 miles (8 \u00bd furlongs) and will be around two turns, so it will be interesting to see how Ewing handles stretching out in distance. His pedigree (genetic bloodline) suggests he\u2019ll be able to run well in longer races, as his sire Knicks Go won the 1 \u00bc-mile Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic in 2021 along with several other big-time races. Ewing\u2019s biggest obstacle Saturday figures to be the presence of Ted Noffey<\/a>, who also comes to Keeneland from Saratoga, where he dominated the Grade 1 Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Post time for the Claiborne Breeders\u2019 Futurity is scheduled for 5:16 p.m. ET, and the race will be televised on CNBC and FanDuel TV and streamed on Peacock.<\/p>\n

Curtain Call<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This Florida-bred colt started his racing career at Churchill Downs back in June, where he finished a promising second behind a subsequent stakes winner named Obliteration<\/a>, who later finished second behind Ewing in the Saratoga Special. Curtain Call then he shipped to Saratoga for his second start, a six-furlong race that he won impressively by 8 \u00bd lengths.<\/p>\n

Next up, Curtain Call ran in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes mentioned above, and he along with every other contender in that race was no match for Ted Noffey. Still, he did not quit and finished third in the seven-furlong race. This contender will need to improve Saturday in the Champagne Stakes, a Grade 1 race, but he\u2019s certainly eligible to do so. He\u2019ll attempt to win racing one mile in the Champagne, which will still be held around one turn due to the configuration of the racetrack at Aqueduct.<\/p>\n

As with Ewing, Curtain Call\u2019s bloodlines should help him succeed in longer races, perhaps as early as Saturday, but also in the future. He\u2019s a son of Belmont Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law and he\u2019s related to a champion filly named Banshee Breeze on his dam\u2019s (mother\u2019s) side of the family.<\/p>\n

Post time for the Champagne is 3:20 p.m. ET and that race will be televised on FS1.<\/p>\n

Exciting times are fast approaching, and by Saturday evening, we\u2019ll know a lot more about Griffin Johnson\u2019s horses and how they shape up among their fellow 2-year-olds in advance of the Breeders\u2019 Cup less four weeks from now and the Kentucky Derby down the road.<\/p>\n