LEXINGTON, Ky. – Warriors Reward and Commonwealth New Era Racing’s Just One Time collared Bell’s the One at the sixteenth pole to post a three-quarters of a length victory in the 21st running of the $500,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon.
The Madison joined the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1), Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, Shakertown (G2) and Commonwealth (G3) on the 11-race card on opening Saturday of Keeneland’s Spring Meet.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Just One Time covered the 7 furlongs on a muddy track in 1:22.79. It is the first Madison victory for Cox and Prat.
Lady Rocket led the field through fractions of :22.11 and :44.50 with defending champion Kimari in closest pursuit while Just One Time raced next to last with Bell’s the One farther back.
On the far turn, Bell’s the One began picking off horses with Just One Time moving right behind her. At the top of the stretch, Bell’s the One used a five-wide move to rocket to the front and open a daylight advantage.
At midstretch, Prat angled Just One Time to the outside of Bell’s the One and gradually wore her down for the victory.
Just One Time is a 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Not This Time out of the Speightstown mare Ida Clark. The victory, the sixth in seven career starts and second graded stakes score for Just One Time, was worth $235,600 and increased her earnings to $525,195.
Sent off as the favorite in the field of nine, Just One Time returned $6.60, $3.80 and $3. Bell’s the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $5.20 and $3.40 and finished 3 lengths in front of Kimari, who paid $3 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
Lady Rocket finished another 11⁄2 lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Four Graces, Cilla, Club Car, Kalypso and Center Aisle.
Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.
Quotes from the $500,000 Madison (G1)
Flavien Prat (winning rider of Just One Time)
“I was hoping to get a good break and get myself into the race. Unfortunately, she broke a bit flat-footed so we went to Plan B and she ran really well in the stretch.”
On setting sights on accomplished closer Bell’s the One in the stretch
“(Bell’s the One) is one of the best and she runs really well at Keeneland, so I didn’t know (if we would hold on for the victory), but my filly was making a good move so we were hoping.”
Brad Cox (winning trainer)
“It worked out today. Obviously, there was a hot pace up front but it’s not ideal; we’d like to break and be a little more involved. That’s how she was before she came to us. We put a starting gate blanket on her today, and honestly it didn’t help her a whole lot getting away from there.
”I’d like to thank the ownership group (Warriors Reward and Commonwealth New Era Racing) for being patient with her. They sent her to us with thoughts of the La Brea (G1 at Santa Anita in December). I wasn’t happy with her when I first got her – how she was doing, how she looked – but she’s starting to really polish off and gave us the confidence to ship to Gulfstream. Then we had this race on the calendar ever since. Once again, congratulations to those guys (owners) and I want to thank them for being patient with her.”
On having the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland
“It’s exciting. Hopefully it will be a race where there’s some pace she can close into. I think she’s versatile. She’s obviously shown she can win up close and sit off of it. She’s honest. I think that’s the biggest thing with her. Makes her versatile.”
Corey Lanerie (rider of runner-up Bell’s the One)
“She made the lead and I passed Kimari and Lady Rocket, and I thought I had the race won. Inside the eighth pole, I could feel 4 (Just One Time) was coming. (Bell’s the One) got a little tired coming off the five-month layoff. I didn’t want to get too far back, and I was pretty far back, so I kind of let her creep. In hindsight, maybe I let her creep a little too early. At the time, it was a split-second decision. I’m just glad she showed that she’s back.”
Neil Pessin (trainer of Bell’s the One)
“You can’t be too upset with that effort and her first start off the layoff. She ran hard.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of third-place finisher Kimari)
“Trip went well. Filly just got a little tired, the track’s a little bit heavy with all that rain but she pulled up good and she came back good.”
Wesley Ward (trainer of Kimari)
“She ran great. We missed a work with her because of the weather here, so she only had two works (at Keeneland before today’s race). She had a really nice comeback race that tightened her down, but for a Grade 1 you can’t afford to miss any works. I am proud of her. She runs hard every time.”
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Just One Time (outside #4) runs down Bell’s the One for victory. (Coady Photography)
