Ellen Jay triumphant in her stakes debut (Susie Raisher)
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By Christian Abdo – NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – LNJ Foxwoods’ Kentucky homebred Ellen Jay, whose name reflects her owners’ moniker, made a name for herself with a first stakes score in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Glen Cove, a six-furlong outer turf test for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Constitution bay is now 3-for-3 on turf, adding to 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint wins against elders at Ellis Park, including a third-out graduation in July ahead of a commanding allowance score last-out on August 10.
Ellen Jay is out of the LNJ Foxwoods-campaigned and Cox-conditioned Covfefe, who captured Saratoga Race Course’s Grade 1 Test as well as the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park en route to 2019 Eclipse Award honors as Champion Female Sprinter and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
Jaime Roth, the “J” in LNJ Foxwoods, said it was a special win to come from a homebred. Her parents Larry and Nanci represent the “L” and the “N” in the parents-daughter team under the nom de course LNJ Foxwoods that delved into thoroughbred ownership in 2012.
“I just saw her mom on Wednesday when I was in Lexington and now to be standing here in the winner’s circle next to her first baby – that doesn’t happen. I’m so lucky to experience that,” said Roth. “Being here at Aqueduct – this is home and to be here with my dad – he thinks he’s a jinx, but he wasn’t today.”
Piloted by Flavien Prat, Ellen Jay exited post 2 a half-step slower than the Hall of Famer Mark Casse-trained Ready to Jam, who broke sharply from the inside post as fellow Casse pupil Time to Dazzle sat to their outside through an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds on the firm turf.
Roth said the slight early deficit was her biggest worry as the race unfolded.
“When I saw her stutter step a little, I said, ‘oh man,’ because I think she really likes to have a good start and be on the lead and get into a rhythm. So, I was a bit concerned but she’s growing up as a racehorse and she’s not as green,” Roth said. “She has that energy that a good horse has, but she needs to contain it a bit and I think she’s learned.”
Heading into the turn, the order of Ready to Jam, Ellen Jay and Time to Dazzle remained unchanged, with Agra keeping watch from well off the pace after hitting the gate at the break. Ellen Jay drew alongside Ready to Jam through the turn, before pouncing to the front with five-eighths down in 55.73.
Agra kicked from last under Junior Alvarado, but she could only earn place honors as Ellen Jay crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front in a final time of 1:07.38.
Ready to Jam and Time to Dazzle rounded out the order of finish.
Kairyu, Twirling Queen, Progeny, Moonlit Lady, and main-track only entrant Golden Degree were scratched. Kairyu finished sixth in the Grade 2 Franklin on October 13 at Keeneland, and Twirling Queen is entered Saturday there in the Grade 2 Raven Run going seven furlongs on the main track. Progeny is entered in a local six-furlong turf allowance on Saturday [Race 12].
Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox, said he sees Ellen Jay as a potential dual-surface prospect. In her racing debut, she finished fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint in May at Churchill Downs, ahead of a fourth there going six furlongs in June.
“I was a little concerned when she stutter stepped leaving the gate, but we were confident she would run well. Flavien said he always felt like he had a lot of horse underneath him – and he even thought she moved a little bit nicer over the dirt,” said Dugas. “With her growing up and maturing, maybe we can get her back onto the dirt and try to get a stakes win there.”
Prat, aboard for the first time, said Ellen Jay was professional in her step up in class.
“I think she’s just starting to figure it out. She was traveling well all the way around and it seems like the filly on the inside broke a bit better than me and was a bit quicker the first part, so I was happy to sit there,” said Prat. “She responded well when I asked her to get going.”
Alvarado said the Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trained Agra was game to get second in her stakes debut.
“She likes to come from off the pace, kind of relax the first part and make a good run, and I think she did. The horse that won, she’s a pretty nice filly but at the same time I think she had everything her way and it was a little hard for us to catch [up]. But, nothing to be ashamed of,” Alvarado said. “My filly put in a very nice run at the end and at least she’s something to look forward to. She’s stepping up in company and she’s proving that she belongs with them.”
The Glen Cove was originally scheduled for Friday, October 11, but rescheduled when the card was cancelled due to a property maintenance issue.
Ellen Jay banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 5-3-0-1 and returning $3.70 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A with a 12-race card that features the Listed $150,000 Awad [Race 3] and the Listed $150,000 Athenia [Race 10]. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
