With 23 days left until the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, 14 fillies will vie for a spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). The last Breeders Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race, the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T), will run today at Keeneland at 1 1/16-mile.
Heading up the field as the favorite is Ilium Stables’ Jezebel’s Kitten under Florent Geroux. 2-for-2 with both starts at a mile, she won first time out August 10 at Ellis Park holding on by a head. The Brad Cox-trained Kitten’s Joy filly won her next start by 4 3/4-length in the Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs on August 3. Today at Keeneland she will break from post 5.
Another starter in today’s race with longer odds comes from Harvey Clarke, who bred champion I’ll Have Another, winner of the 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1). Owned by the Estate of Harvey Clarke and Paul Braverman, Eye of a Soldier arrived at Keeneland Monday morning from Monmouth Park under the care of trainer Tim Hills.
“Mr. Clarke died earlier this year, and his wife, Donna, and son, Scott, have continued the stable and kept me on as part of the team,” Hills told Paulick Report. Braverman bought into the filly after her second start.
A daughter of Soldat, Eye of a Soldier comes into today’s race with a record of 2: 1-1-0 winning her last race by 15 1/4 lengths off-the-turf at Monmouth on September 7. She starts from post 13.
Two daughters of American Pharoah, Envied and Sweet Melania, will run against a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, Takeitback. War Front will also have two daughters contest for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Indochine and Diamond Sparkles.
Post time: 4:24 p.m. Eastern, 1:24 p.m. Pacific on TVG.
The Field
[1] Morning Gold (Morning Line) – ML
O 10/1Record – 3: 1-1-0 $73,320, last workout 10/6 Keeneland 3 furlongs 37.60
J: Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
T: Kenneth G. McPeek
B: Athens Woods LLC
O: C & H Diamond Racing, LLC (Greg Back and Al Larose)
[2] Envied (American Pharoah) – MLO 20/1
Record: 2: 1-0-1 $22,200, last workout 9/29 Keeneland 4 furlongs 48.40
J: Miguel Mena
T: Ben Colebrook
B: HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC
O: HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing, LLC (Hank Nothhaft)
[3] Fujairah (Ghostzapper) – MLO 15/1
Record: 3: 1-1-0 $43,950, last workout 10/5 Keeneland 4 furlongs 49.40
J: Julien R. Leparoux
T: Carlos A. David
B: St. George Farm LLC
O: Three Rivers Stable, Inc. (Louis Parejo)
[4] Indochine (War Front) – MLO 5/1
Record: 2: 1-0-1 $52,050, last workout 9/27 Belmont 4 furlongs 48.24.
J: John R. Velazquez
T: Chad C. Brown
B: Lunsford & Sikura Racing, LLC
O: Peter M. Brant
[5] Jezebel’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) – MLO 4/1
Record: 2: 2-0-0 $318,300, last workout Churchill Downs 10/4 4 furlongs 48.60.
J: Florent Geroux
T: Brad H. Cox
B: Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey
O: Ilium Stables, LLC (Angelantonio Freda)
[6] Sweet Melania (American Pharoah) – MLO 9/2
Record: 4: 1-1-2 $84,000, last workout Saratoga 9/29 4 furlongs 49.31.
J: Jose L. Ortiz
T: Todd A. Pletcher
B: St. Elias Stables, LLC
O: Robert E. and Lawana L. Low
[7] Takeitback (Pioneerof the Nile) – MLO 20/1
Record: 2: 1-0-0 $79,114, last workout 9/21 Thoroughbred Center 4 furlongs 49.00.
J: Jon Kenton Court
T: Laura Wohlers
B: Calumet Farm
O: James McIngvale
[8] Witez (More Than Ready) – MLO 15/1
Record: 3: 1-0-1 $83,925, last workout 10/3 Skylight Training Center 4 furlongs 49.80.
J: Calvin H. Borel
T: Ian R. Wilkes
B: Mary Ann Charlston
O: Mary Ann Charlston
[9] Diamond Sparkles (War Front) – MLO 6/1
Record: 3: 1-0-0 $9,406, last workout 9/28 Churchill Downs 4 furlongs 50.00.
J: Tyler Gaffalione
T: Mark E. Casse
B: Premier Bloodstock
O: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman) and Gary Barber
[10] Soothsaying (Lemon Drop Kid) – MLO 12/1
Record: 1: 1-0-0 $30,000, last workout 10/5 Churchill Downs 4 furlongs 49.40.
J: James Graham
T: William I. Mott
B: J. David Richardson, Michael Chipman & Richard Knapp
O: J. David Richardson, Mike Chipman and Richard M. Knapp
[11] Swanage (English Channel) – MLO 8/1
Record: 4: 1-1-0 $89,950, last workout 10/5 Churchill Downs 4 furlongs 48.20.
J: Javier Castellano
T: Michael J. Maker
B: Allen Racing
O: Bloom Racing Stable, LLC (Jeffrey Bloom)
[12] High On Gin (Fury Kapcori) – MLO 15/1
Record: 2: 2-0-0 $49,800, last workout 10/1 Delta Downs 4 furlongs 49.60.
J: Victor Espinoza
T: Chasey Deville
B: Deborah A Silveira
O: Jerry Caroom
[13] Eye of a Soldier (Soldat) – MLO 20/1
Record: 2: 1-1-0 $37,500, last workout 10/2 Monmouth 5 furlongs 1:00.00.
J: Christopher P. DeCarlo
T: Timothy A. Hills
B: Mr. & Mrs. Harvey A Clarke
O: Estate of Harvey A. Clarke (Donna Clarke) and Paul Braverman
[14] Ask Bailey (Run Away and Hide) – MLO 12/1
Record: 3: 1-2-0 $133,000, last workout 10/5 Churchill Training Center 4 furlongs 48.20.
J: Corey J. Lanerie
T: Michael J. Maker
B: Joseph L Alexander Jr. & Mark R Alexander
O: Hooties Racing, LLC (Mark Moore) and WSS Racing, LLC (William Simon)
Also Eligible:
[15] Lemon Scat
[16] Hollee Peach
The winner of the JPMorgan Jessamine Stakes will receive automatic entry in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) November 1 at Santa Anita Park. Pre-entry and entry fees will be paid and a nominator award of $10,000 will be given to the nominating person. Also, all Breeders’ Cup starters based outside of the state of California will receive a travel allowance of $10,000 if based in North America, and $40,000 if based Internationally.
