A horse named after Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope is already making headlines of its own.
Coach Pope, a 2-year-old colt, picked up his first career victory Saturday at Churchill Downs during the opening weekend of the track’s September Meet.
Entering the one-mile Maiden Special Weight race as the 1/1 favorite, Coach Pope lived up to expectations. The colt broke well and stayed near the front of the pack before making his move after the final turn.
With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, Coach Pope pulled away down the stretch and crossed the finish line 1½ lengths ahead of the competition. He completed the race on a fast track in 1:35.77.
Coach Pope passed Fullback and Justification in the final stages to secure the victory, giving the young colt his first win in impressive fashion.
The horse is trained by Kenny McPeek and is owned by Gainsway Stable, Shamrock Stables and Michael J. Mackin.
Ortiz, meanwhile, brings plenty of experience to the saddle. He has won major races including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes aboard Golden Tempo, as well as the Kentucky Oaks with Always a Runner.
While the horse shares a name with Kentucky’s head basketball coach, there is no connection between Mark Pope and the colt. Coach Pope was simply named in honor of the Wildcats coach.
Still, the coincidence makes the victory especially interesting for Kentucky fans. With Pope preparing for another important season on the basketball court, a horse carrying his name has now gotten off to a winning start at one of Kentucky’s most iconic racing venues.
For Big Blue Nation, “Coach Pope” winning at Churchill Downs is certainly a fun storyline—and one that could become even more entertaining if the colt continues to find success.
