Test Score Achieves Another Perfect Grade, Takes Home Twilight Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

The GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes winner Test Score (Lookin At Lucky) returned to his winning ways with a sharp victory in the GII Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Park.

Facing elite company in three straight races starting May 3 at Churchill Downs, where he ran second to Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Test Score rebounded to secure the aforementioned Belmont Derby, and again hit the board two back Aug. 2 at Saratoga in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational as World Beater (Oscar Performance) turned the tables on him from their prior match across town.

Wearing blinkers for the first time here, the betting public hammered Test Score at the windows to the tune of 3-5 favoritism, and he gave them no reason to worry late. Tracking from just off the fence in fourth as the frontrunner led them through six furlongs in 1:13.19, he was as far as four wide through the final bend but making up ground on the leaders as they swung into the lane. Fighting to the front as Maaz (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) was coming fast behind him, Test Score put away Namaron (Ger) (Amaron {GB}) to win by 1 1/2 lengths as Maaz claimed second by a neck in the final yards.

“This afternoon my agent told me we had some good ones today and he was right,” said jockey Juan Hernandez. “We started out with Privman [winning the Tokyo City Cup Stakes]. I had to work with him a little but because he likes to play around. He got the job done. Then this horse for Graham Motion, all the credit goes to my horse because he broke well and put himself in a nice spot, I was just traveling with him. He wanted to be there and he was happy. All I did turning for home was just swing out. All the credit to my horse. He is just such a nice horse.”

“I think he wanted to be focused a little bit more,” said owner John Amerman. “[Trainer] Graham Motion thought that the blinkers would help him and it was classic. He did well today. You never know that anyone is going to be victorious. But we wanted to come out and see him. It is a Grade II, the Twilight Derby, and we are happy to be here.”

 

 

TEST SCORE ($3.20) soars home in the $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) at @santaanitapark. The son of Lookin at Lucky was ridden by @JJHernandezS19 and trained by @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/4L2df35Dhy

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 25, 2025

 

Pedigree Note:

Test Score is one of 20 Group/Grade I winners for Lookin At Lucky, who stood at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in North America and frequently shuttled to Chile before making South America is semi-permanent base since 2024. First dam Joy of Learning, a winning daughter of Kitten's Joy and another homebred for Mrs. Jerry Amerman, has a perfect strike rate of three winners from as many runners including Test Score's half-siblings Screen Test (Not This Time) and Eton (English Channel). Joy of Learning is herself a half to GI Longines Just a Game Stakes winner Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW Admission Office (Point of Entry) and MGSP Royal Fury (Langfuhr).

This is also the extended family of MGSW Endlessly (Oscar Performance). The Amerman Racing connection goes back at least through Test Score's third dam, French stakes runner Society Dream (Fr) (Akarad {Fr}). Joy of Learning has a yearling War of Will colt named Military Academy and reported a filly by Liam's Map this season before visiting top stallion Not This Time for her 2026 cover.

Saturday, Santa Anita
TWILIGHT DERBY-GII, $200,000, Santa Anita, 10-25, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.66, fm.
1–TEST SCORE, 124, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
                1st Dam: Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy
                2nd Dam: Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy
                3rd Dam: Society Dream (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-4-3-2, $1,448,525. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Maaz (Fr), 124, g, 3, Galiway (GB)–Exceedingly Diva (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (€41,000 Ylg '23 OSASEP; €72,000 2yo '24 ARQBRU). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables LLC, Sabby Racing LLC and Michael House; B-S.C.E.A. Du Domaine de Malerai (FR); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $40,000.
3–Namaron (Ger), 124, g, 3, Amaron (GB)–Nacci (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). (£200,000 3yo '25 GOFLO). O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Christian Henze (GER); T-John W. Sadler. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 15.40, 2.50.
Also Ran: Septembersixtyfour, Scipio. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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