Berth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) on the line at Keeneland Oct. 7.
Eleven juvenile fillies are expected to line up in the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T), the feature Oct. 7 Keeneland, and vie for an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) back at the Lexington oval Nov. 6.
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Michael Kisber, Peter Deutsch, and The Elkstone Group’s Aunt Pearl is the 3-1 morning-live favorite in the 1 1/16-mile event. Brad Cox trains the Irish-bred daughter of Lope de Vega, who won by five lengths on debut Sept. 1 racing a mile over good turf at Churchill Downs. Florent Geroux will return in the irons as the filly breaks from post 7.
Aunt Pearl was purchased by BSW Euro Venture, with Liz Crow as agent, for $358,767 from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale a year ago.
The 7-2 second choice, Michael Hernon, Gary Barber, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Spanish Loveaffair, has one more race under her belt. The Karakontie filly trained by Mark Casse was an 11-length winner first out at Gulfstream Park in July. She returned at the South Florida track to win the Sharp Susan Stakes Aug. 29. Both races came at a mile.
Purchased by Delray Investments for $35,000 from breeder Gainesway at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Spanish Loveaffair is a half sister to American Oaks (G1T) winner Spanish Queen. Tyler Gaffalione will take the mount from post 10.
The only other filly in the field that has earned black type is Mark Norman’s Taylor’s Tourist. The Midshipman filly was a debut winner on the main track at Evangeline Downs, then rallied from 10th to finish second in the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Robby Albarado, who won the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) on Swiss Skydiver, will ride the Scott Gelner trainee from post 3.
Along with Taylor’s Tourist, first-out winners Batyah and Ingrassia are listed at 6-1 on the morning line.
Earle Mack’s Batyah, a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, rallied to win going a mile at Belmont Park for trainer Graham Motion. David Cohen will ride the half sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third Stellar Agent from the rail.
Trainer Chad Brown will be represented by Don Alberto Stable’s homebred Ingrassia, who scored at the Jessamine distance in her career debut at Saratoga Race Course. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro will have the services of Javier Castellano from post 5.
Also entered are G. Watts Humphey homebred Navratilova, who is out of Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) winner Centre Court, and Repole Stable’s Gambling Cat, a full sister to American Turf Stakes (G2T) and Del Mar Derby (G2T) winner Banned.
Momentous Miss, Beautiful Star, Arm Candy, and Lazy Summer Day complete the field.
