On a sunlit Saturday at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, the $3.5 million DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational (G3) delivered one of the most thrilling finishes in recent turf racing memory. Wimbledon Hawkeye, a British-bred three-year-old colt with a name inspired by tennis technology, finally found his moment of glory on American soil, edging out Burnham Square by a head in a heart-pounding stretch duel. The victory marked a triumphant U.S. debut for both horse and trainer, and a deeply personal win for legendary jockey Frankie Dettori.
Wimbledon Hawkeye’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Sired by Kameko and bred by the Gredley family in Great Britain, the colt had knocked heads with some of Europe’s best, including a runner-up finish to 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court. Despite his consistency—finishing worse than third only twice in 11 starts before this race—bad luck and narrow defeats had kept him from the winner’s circle since his victory in the 2024 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) at Newmarket. Trainer James Owen, now in just his third full season, decided it was time to take a shot at one of the richest turf prizes in America.
“The horse is improving,” Owen said after the race, his voice brimming with pride and disbelief. “He’s not the biggest, but he’s getting stronger all the time, and he’s a very consistent horse. I’m privileged to train him. I haven’t been training long. It’s my third season training and to win this prize is unreal.” According to Owen, not only was this his first win in America, but it was also his first trip to the United States—a gamble that paid off handsomely.
Wimbledon Hawkeye’s stateside debut came with its own set of challenges. Drawing the far outside post in a field of 12, the colt faced a daunting trip. Yet, with the experienced hands of Frankie Dettori in the irons, he broke well and settled into a good stalking position, three wide, as King of Ashes set the early pace. Dettori, who had won this race the previous year with another British invader, Bellum Justum, was determined to make every move count.
“When I got to the three-eighths, I said, ‘Come and catch me if you can.’ Because I knew I’d get the distance,” Dettori recounted. “And the only one to come out of the pack was Brian (Hernandez). He came that fast, I thought he was going to pass me. But Wimbledon Hawkeye showed great determination and he kept on fighting to the line. I wasn’t sure. When you get that close, you don’t know.”
As the field turned for home, Dettori pressed the launch button. The colt responded, taking command at the top of the stretch. But Burnham Square, guided by Brian Hernandez Jr., unleashed a furious rally on the outside. The two colts battled stride for stride, the crowd roaring as they flashed under the wire together. The photo finish revealed Wimbledon Hawkeye had prevailed by the slimmest of margins—a head.
For Dettori, the win was more than just another notch in his storied career. He dedicated the victory to a best friend he had lost just two weeks prior in Dubai. “I was thinking of quitting. It was his strength that made me carry on, he would have wanted me to carry on,” Dettori said, emotion evident in his words. “And Tim Gredley’s family has been friends of mine for years. They were actually my neighbors for 20 years. So the whole thing means a lot.”
Co-owner Tim Gredley, beaming under a suede cowboy hat, echoed the sentiment. “It’s great to have my old pal riding the horse, not just because he’s my friend, but because he’s still one of the best,” Gredley said. The Gredley family, who bred Wimbledon Hawkeye, have long been influential figures in British racing and show jumping.
The Nashville Derby’s $3.5 million purse is surpassed in the United States only by the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Turf. Because Wimbledon Hawkeye was not Kentucky-bred, he competed for a $2 million share—still the richest turf purse in America outside the Breeders’ Cup. His earnings for the day, $1,109,800, vaulted his career total to $1,479,762, with a record of 3 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds from 12 starts.
The final time for the 1 5/16-mile distance was a swift 2:03.74 over firm turf. Hill Road finished third in a tight photo with Test Score fourth, while Sandman, a Grade 1 winner trying turf for the first time, faded to ninth. Jockey Jose Ortiz, aboard Sandman, remarked, “It’s very hard to say on this course. Some horses like the turf, and they come here, and they like it. I would like to see him on a normal track and give him a shot in the turf. But today he went out there, he was traveling good, but kind of stayed one-paced and didn’t give me any kick.”
Burnham Square’s jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr., was gracious in defeat but proud of his mount’s effort. “He was dragging me out of the saddle. I was like, ‘Dude, we got to slow down a little bit.’ Once we got midway down the backside, he dropped the bridle. I was following the winner, because I thought he was the one to beat… When we started surging, I thought we were going to beat him for fun. But he kept coming. I wasn’t sure at the wire, because I was in front of him right before the wire. But then right at the wire he ended up getting a really good bob. It kind of looked like he got his head right in front of us. You’re proud of the horse for running so well, but at the same time you want to win these kinds of races.”
Beyond the drama at the finish, the Nashville Derby further cemented Kentucky Downs’ reputation as a magnet for top European talent. Tim Gredley noted, “It’s massive. In England, in Europe, we’re almost running for as much money as the English Derby (without the Kentucky-bred bonus). It’s a massive incentive, it’s quite addictive, and I think, hopefully, more European horses will come to take them on.”
With this breakthrough win, Wimbledon Hawkeye has not only ended his winless streak but announced himself as a force on both sides of the Atlantic. For Dettori, Owen, and the Gredley family, the victory was a testament to perseverance, friendship, and the enduring allure of international competition. As the crowd watched Dettori perform his signature flying dismount and strum an imaginary guitar in the winner’s circle, it was clear this was a day to remember at Kentucky Downs.
