(Boyd wins the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday / All Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

BOYD OVERCOMES AWKWARD START, EASILY WINS $217,250 ED BROWN

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025) – Southern California invader Boyd from the powerful barn of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert rebounded from an awkward start to easily dispatch his three rivals in Saturday’s fifth running of the $217,250 Ed Brown for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Boyd covered the 6 ½ furlongs on a “fast” track in 1:15.58 for owner Amr F. Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stables to defeat Big Dom by 2 ½ lengths and remain unbeaten in two starts.

A 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Violence out of the Street Boss mare A Taste of Red, Boyd added $138,500 to his bankroll, which brought his earnings to $186,500. He broke his maiden 83 days ago by 5 ¾ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on Sept. 7.

Breaking from the outside post, Boyd overcame a slight bobble away from the gate and raced just off the right shoulder of $250,000 Bowman Mill winner Gallivant, who broke alertly from the rail and clipped an opening quarter mile in :22.61. Boyd poked his nose in front midway around the turn and shook clear of that rival at the top of the stretch after a half-mile in :44.89 as Stradale, a Churchill maiden winner 34 days ago, put in a three-wide challenge. The chase inside the final furlong was to no avail as Boyd proved to be much the best, as Breeders’ Futurity (GI) sixth Big Dom closed from last to outrun Stradale by a length for the placing.

“He was traveling really well the entire race,” Prat said. “He took a nice breather on the backside and finished up very well. He came from a 5 ½-furlong race and it was a question if he could handle the 6 ½ furlongs today and he did.”

Boyd, named after Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer Boyd T. Browning Jr., returned $3.48 and $3 as the odds-on 3-5 favorite in the compact field of four juvenile sprinters (note: there was no show wagering). Big Dom, under Jose Ortiz at 8-1, returned $2.38 and $2.10 with Gleanfinishing another six lengths back in third under Gerardo Corrales and paying $2.84 to show.

Bobrovsky and Ganaas were scratched.

The winner was bred by Nasser Omihira.

ED BROWN QUOTES

Flavien Prat, jockey, Boyd, winner: “He was traveling really well the entire race. He took a nice breather on the backside and finished up very well. He came from a 5 ½-furlong race and it was a question if he could handle the 6 ½ furlongs today and he did.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey, Big Dom, runner-up: “He ran well today. He was able to come with a late run and was finishing up strongly but was second best today.”