Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and Windmill Manor Farm’s Verstappen made his graded stakes debut a winning one Saturday when he posted a head victory over millionaire Red Knight in the $350,000 Elkhorn (G2) going 1½ miles on the grass. 

“He went back to Turfway Park last night where he had trained all winter,” said Paul Madden, assistant to trainer Brendan Walsh. 

Verstappen, a Keeneland sales graduate, gave jockey Declan Cannon his first Keeneland stakes victory. Cannon has ridden Verstappen in his past four starts with three victories and a runner-up finish. 

A possible next start for Verstappen could be the $225,000 Louisville (G3) to be run May 20 at Churchill Downs over 1½ miles on the turf. 

“Now that we know he can run with those horses, races like that will be in play,” Madden said.