More Than Looks

More Than Looks was unplaced in his career debut Feb. 19, 2023, in a five-furlong turf sprint at Gulfstream Park. He needed just one more start to notch his first win as the More Than Ready colt won a 1-mile and 70-yard maiden special weight race that came off the turf, prevailing by a neck at Gulfstream in March in his second race.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux returned More Than Looks to the grass for his next race and he finished a fast-closing second by a head going one mile April 28 at Keeneland.

More Than Looks used similar closing tactics to win his fourth start by a neck June 17 at Ellis Park. The victory was encouraging enough that DeVaux opted to try him against stakes competition next in the $250,000 Manila Stakes July 7 at Belmont Park.

Highly regarded Nagirroc and Talk of the Nation dueled into deep stretch in the one-mile Manila, but More Than Looks proved much the best as he swept past in the closing strides en route to a clear victory in 1:33.19.

More Than Looks added a 2 3/4-length win in the Jefferson Cup Stakes Sept. 30, 2023, at Churchill Downs and closed out his 3-year-old season with a sixth-place finish, beaten by two lengths, in the the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF at Santa Anita Park.

More Than Looks was given an extended layoff after the Breeders’ Cup. He made his 4-year-old debut after more than nine months off in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap Aug. 11, 2024, at Saratoga Race Course, where he finished second to Carl Spackler. He again followed home that familiar foe in his next start when second in the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

After two straight runner-up finishes behind Carl Spackler, More Than Looks was ready for his best effort in his third start back from the layoff, which came in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF at Del Mar on Nov. 2. More Than Looks turned the tables on Carl Spackler in the Breeders' Cup Mile and defeated the rest of the high-quality 10-horse international field by making a last-to-first closing move to get up in time by a three-quarters of a length margin at the finish ahead of runner-up Johannes. More Than Looks completed the mile in a time of 1:32.65 and paid $15.80 to win under jockey Jose Ortiz.

More Than Looks was produced by the stakes-winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Ladies’ Privilege, a full-sister (same dam, same sire) to multiple graded stakes winner Takeover Target.