Rhetorical won his stakes debut Aug. 24 at Saratoga in the $150,000 West Point S. for his fourth win overall in five lifetime starts.
The 4-year-old is the 15th stakes winner of 2025 for Not This Time, who is currently fourth on the this year’s General Sire list.
The dark bay was facing a field of six in the 1 1/16-mile turf contest. He settled nicely into third behind a fairly brisk opening half-mile of :45.98 and a snappy six furlongs in 1:09.82. Rhetorical began to close in on the leaders at that point and took command with ease at the top of the stretch. Never seriously threatened through the lane, he won by 2 ¼-lengths in 1:39.71.
Rhetorical has improved on his Beyer Speed Figure in each subsequent start, earning a 94 for Sunday’s win.
“Every time we stepped up the company or the challenge, he does it–he handles it pretty easily,” said trainer Will Walden. “We just get him over here and he does the rest. That was the first time he really sat behind horses without fighting it. I do think it helped that they went 22, 45 in front of him.”
Owned by Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable LLC and Wachtel Stable, Rhetorical has earned $251,200 in his career and is a half-brother to $1.1 million earner Sterling Silver. He was bred by Mallory Mort & Karen Mort.
