Final Gambit

Connections

Owner: Juddmonte
Breeders: Juddmonte
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luan Machado

Final Gambit: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Final Gambit, a 3-year-old colt by Not This Time out of Pachinko, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with momentum after winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 22, 2025, at Turfway Park, taking the 1 1/8-mile race on synthetic in 1:50.08. He also secured a maiden win at Turfway Park over 1 mile in 1:40.75. With a pedigree featuring Giant’s Causeway and Tapit, Final Gambit blends versatility and stamina, making him a contender for the Kentucky Derby.

Pedigree

Final Gambit
├── Sire: Not This Time
│   ├── Sire: Giant’s Causeway
│   └── Dam: Miss Macy Sue (by Trippi)
└── Dam: Pachinko
    ├── Sire: Tapit
    └── Dam: Hachita (by Gone West)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Not This Time
  Not This Time, a successful sire by Giant’s Causeway, was a top 2-year-old in 2016, winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and placing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He stands at Taylor Made Stallions for $150,000 in 2025 and has sired Grade 1 winners like Epicenter (2022 Travers Stakes) and Up to the Mark (2023 Manhattan Stakes). Not This Time’s progeny often show versatility, excelling on dirt and synthetic surfaces, which aligns with Final Gambit’s success at Turfway Park.
• Dam: Pachinko
  Pachinko, by Tapit, is a winning mare who has produced Final Gambit as her most notable foal from three foals of racing age. Her female family, through her dam Hachita, includes stakes-placed runners, adding depth to Final Gambit’s pedigree.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Not This Time’s Parents (Final Gambit’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Not This Time’s sire is Giant’s Causeway, as you confirmed, a 2000 European Horse of the Year by Storm Cat who won five consecutive Group 1 races, including the 2000 St. James’s Palace Stakes. Giant’s Causeway, who passed away in 2018, was a leading sire known for producing versatile runners like Shamardal and Giant’s Steps. Not This Time’s dam is Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi, a stakes winner who took the 2007 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at 6 furlongs and produced multiple stakes winners, including Not This Time. This paternal line gives Final Gambit a mix of speed and stamina.
• Pachinko’s Parents (Final Gambit’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Pachinko’s sire is Tapit, a leading sire by Pulpit known for producing stamina-oriented runners like Belmont Stakes winners Tonalist (2014) and Essential Quality (2021), though he’s 0-for-14 in the Kentucky Derby, a concern we’ve noted with Tiztastic and Sandman. Pachinko’s dam is Hachita, by Gone West, a stakes-placed mare who won at 1 mile on turf and produced winners from her foals. Gone West, a successful sire, adds speed and class to the lineage, with progeny like Mr. Greeley (sire of Flawless in Rodriguez’s pedigree).

Additional Notes on Final Gambit’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Not This Time): Giant’s Causeway, a Storm Cat son, brings speed and versatility, while Miss Macy Sue’s sprinting success adds early pace to Final Gambit’s profile. Not This Time’s own near-miss in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1 1/16 miles) and his success as a sire of classic runners like Epicenter suggest Final Gambit can handle the Derby distance, as evidenced by his 1:50.08 win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks over 1 1/8 miles on synthetic.
• Maternal Line (Pachinko): Tapit provides stamina, though his 0-for-14 Derby record at Churchill Downs remains a concern, as we’ve noted with other Tapit progeny like Tiztastic. Hachita, by Gone West, adds a layer of speed—Gone West’s progeny often excel at middle distances, and Hachita’s turf win at 1 mile complements Tapit’s classic influence, supporting Final Gambit’s ability to stretch out. This maternal line balances Not This Time’s speed with stamina, as seen in Final Gambit’s late rally in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Final Gambit’s pedigree combines Giant’s Causeway’s versatility with Tapit’s stamina, making him a candidate for the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. However, his success has been on synthetic at Turfway Park, and his turf run at Churchill Downs (3rd in 1:37.75) raises questions about his dirt form, a critical factor at Churchill Downs. Not This Time’s progeny have excelled on dirt (e.g., Epicenter), but Final Gambit’s limited dirt experience is a concern.

Final Gambit’s Race Record