Race Preview: Jessamine Stakes – Keeneland, October 9, 2013
The feature race on Wednesday at Keeneland is the 23rd running of the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes for two-year-old fillies. The race is an important step on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in three weeks at Santa Anita. Morning line favorite for the Jessamine is Zinzay, who won her debut in late August at Saratoga.
Zinzay was almost 20-1 when she won her first start and is now 3-1, not a great turn around for those who bet her at the Spa. Of course the daughter of Smart Strike should have been ready to roll after being purchased for $700,000 as a two-year-old in training in March. She looks to have taken to the Keeneland air and will be tough with expected improvement.
After the favorite there are three fillies at either 4-1 or 9-2 on the morning line. Kitten Kaboodle is still a maiden after two starts, both second place finishes at Saratoga. Candy Kitty defeated Kitten Kaboodle two starts back then was fifth in the PG Johnson Stakes ten days later. That may have come up too soon and now with over a month off the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid should be ready to roll. Richies Party Girl is the likely pace setter coming off a nose victory in an allowance race over the Churchill turf last month. She just barely held off the charge of Runway Giant who is also in the Jessamine.
Runway Giant is going to be the long shot pick after her nose defeat to Richies Party Girl. By Giant’s Causeway, Runway Giant drew post ten and can sit a nice trip from just off the pace. Last one to load, first one across the wire.
Post time for the Jessamine on Wednesday is 4:49 PM ET.
Zinzay was almost 20-1 when she won her first start and is now 3-1, not a great turn around for those who bet her at the Spa. Of course the daughter of Smart Strike should have been ready to roll after being purchased for $700,000 as a two-year-old in training in March. She looks to have taken to the Keeneland air and will be tough with expected improvement.
After the favorite there are three fillies at either 4-1 or 9-2 on the morning line. Kitten Kaboodle is still a maiden after two starts, both second place finishes at Saratoga. Candy Kitty defeated Kitten Kaboodle two starts back then was fifth in the PG Johnson Stakes ten days later. That may have come up too soon and now with over a month off the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid should be ready to roll. Richies Party Girl is the likely pace setter coming off a nose victory in an allowance race over the Churchill turf last month. She just barely held off the charge of Runway Giant who is also in the Jessamine.
Runway Giant is going to be the long shot pick after her nose defeat to Richies Party Girl. By Giant’s Causeway, Runway Giant drew post ten and can sit a nice trip from just off the pace. Last one to load, first one across the wire.
Post time for the Jessamine on Wednesday is 4:49 PM ET.