Rhetorical (USA) Horse
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About
Rhetorical is a 5yo dk b/br horse from United States trained by William Walden. It is by the stallion Not This Time out of the dam Sheet Humor. Rhetorical has recorded six wins to date. On 3 May 2026 at Churchill Downs, it secured its most important victory, taking the $1,500,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes. The horse has been a profit‑generating choice for bettors, and anyone who backed Rhetorical throughout its career would have earned a 134% return on investment.
Race Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Churchill Downs 03-May-26 1811m FIRM R11 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (Stakes) $945,000 (of $1,500,000) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:45.960, SP: 3.50 dictated terms along thei nside, kicked clear in upper stretch then held sway well. 1st Rhetorical ( I O Jr 123 ) 2nd Make Me King ( J L Ortiz 123 ) 3.25L 3rd Corruption ( J R Velazquez 123 ) 6.75L See full results | I O Jr 55.8kg | 1 (9) |
| Keeneland 11-Apr-26 1609m R9 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (Stakes) $65,000 (of $650,000) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:34.900, SP: 4.00 got fractious in the starting gate, stalked along the inside forged place while changing to his right lead nearing the furlong grounds, shifted out to the three path in pursuit shortly after, ran on but got outkicked for place by an inner rival. 1st Zulu Kingdom ( F Prat 123 ) 2nd One Stripe ( J Velazquez 123 ) 0.75L 3rd Rhetorical ( I O Jr 123 ) 1.25L See full results | I O Jr 55.8kg 1.25L | 3 (8) |
| Del Mar 02-Nov-25 1610m FIRM R10 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (Stakes) $140,000 (of $2,000,000) Barrier 11, Winning Time: 01:33.660, SP: 6.50 was forwardly placed three deep, forged command leaving the second turn, edged clear nearing the furlong marker off of the inside, but weakened slightly in the final yards and succumbed. 1st Notable Speech ( W Buick 126 ) 2nd Formidable Man ( J Velazquez 126 ) 1.50L 3rd The Lion In Winter ( C Soumillon 123 ) 0.20L 4th Rhetorical ( I O Jr 126 ) 2.10L See full results | I O Jr 57.2kg 2.10L | 4 (13) |
| Keeneland 05-Oct-25 1610m FIRM R10 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (Stakes) $787,500 (of $1,250,000) Barrier 9, Winning Time: 01:33.610, SP: 13.00 tracked along the inside, then in the two path into the backstretch, tipped three wide into upper stretch, rallied to bid at the furlong grounds, gained an advantage leaving that juncture then held from pursuers late. 1st Rhetorical ( I O Jr 126 ) 2nd Program Trading ( F Prat 126 ) 0.75L 3rd Brilliant Berti ( J Ortiz 126 ) 0.30L See full results | I O Jr 57.2kg | 1 (11) |
| Saratoga 25-Aug-25 1710m FIRM R8 West Point S. Presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (Stakes) $94,500 (of $150,000) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:39.710, SP: 1.30 1st Rhetorical ( I O Jr 122 ) 2nd Bettrluckythangood ( D Davis 122 ) 2.25L 3rd Conman ( M Franco 124 ) 4.75L See full results | I O Jr 55.3kg | 1 (6) |
| Saratoga 20-Jul-25 1710m FIRM R5 Race 5 $72,450 (of $115,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:41.410, SP: 1.80 brushed the off side stall at the start, pulled a bit eager early on and came under a hard hold attending the leader two to three wide through the first turn, settled tracking the front three then two wide in closest aim, got given a notch to work with into the far turn and advanced steadily applying pressure through the bend until given his cue swinging three then two wide into upper stretch, quickly took over and edged clear under a drive to inside the eighth pole, then got geared down in the late stages to the finish. 1st Rhetorical ( M Franco 125 ) 2nd Activist Investing ( D Davis 123 ) 2.50L 3rd Oh Really ( K Carmouche 125 ) 0.30L See full results | M Franco 56.7kg | 1 (6) |
| Belmont At The Big A 19-May-25 1710m GOOD R8 Race 8 $51,030 (of $81,000) Barrier 11, Winning Time: 01:41.130, SP: 1.50 Out,3p,lead1/4,driving 1st Rhetorical ( I O Jr 124 ) 2nd Fidelightcayut ( J Alvarado 126 ) 5.00L 3rd Mo Kreesa ( R J Santana 118 ) 2.50L See full results | I O Jr 56.2kg | 1 (12) |
| Saratoga 25-Aug-24 1710m GOOD R8 Race 8 $9,500 (of $95,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:42.940 tossed his head while rank along the hedge on the first turn, was reserved at the back, angled from the hedge to the five path on the far turn, rallied outside to make a bid near the furlong marker, fought outside of multiple foes to the finish and missed while able to get the show. 1st Clear Conscience ( J Ortiz 123 ) 2nd Slapintheface ( M Franco 123 ) 0.50L 3rd Rhetorical ( I O Jr 120 ) 0.75L See full results | I O Jr 54.4kg 0.75L | 3 (11) |
| Saratoga 27-Jul-24 1610m GOOD R10 Md $56,700 (of $90,000) Barrier 11, Winning Time: 01:35.850 Off 1/2 slw, drew clr 1st Rhetorical ( I O Jr 118 ) 2nd Sebastianthe First ( L Saez 118 ) 5.00L 3rd Hard Par ( K Davis 118 ) 0.75L See full results | I O Jr 53.5kg | 1 (10) |