It was a runaway win in an Ellis Park Maiden Special Weight for KARAKONTIE’s Agate on Sunday when the Dede McGegee homebred won by a widening 4 ½ lengths.
Early on in the one-mile turf race, the juvenile raced in second about a neck behind the leader. By the time they straightened into the backstretch, Agate had his head in front inf the three horse battle for the lead.
Another horse stuck close to him after he took solid command, but Umberto Rispoli looked to have the ultimate confidence in his mount. He let Agate coast until midstretch when he gave the gelding a few taps to find another gear.
.@umbyrispoli is BACK!
𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗘 shows his strong stride going longer on the turf @EllisParkRacing.@kelseyjdanner trains the 2-year-old son of @Gainesway Stallion Karakontie (JPN).#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/lNjebuB2mS
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 5, 2026
The race was all but over from there with Agate stretching out to win by 4 ½ lengths for trainer Kelsey Danner.
Agate is the second winner out of the winning More Than Ready mare More Than Gracious. That mare is a half-sister to the stakes winning House of Grace and to the dam of the stakes winning duo of Smokin’ Jay and Nice as Pie.
Four of Agate’s first give dams have produced stakes performers with three producing stakes winners, including Grade 1 winners Double Delta and Delta Flag.