-Jessamine Stakes G2 Keenland Park, Lexington KY

As if a $400.000 purse wasn’t enough, there was also a Breeder’s Cup win-and-you’re-in on the line Friday when they ran race #2 on the card.

As your Trackman pointed out in the race preview, Mini Mulite looked primed for a change in tactics and that is just what happened. Jockey Franco put the pedal down from the start and the filly responded with a gutsy on-the-engine score for the high-flying Mb Stables.

Patronize, as expected, sat behind the early pace in a midpack position and then poured it on late to just miss by a head for DJC Racing Stables.

Grand Concourse mixed it up early with the eventual winner and just got overtaken late by Patronize in the fight for second.

Unplaced horses in order of finish:

4th- A Bod For Sin suffered a bit of a wide trip for La Canada Racehorses and looks to have a bright future ahead.

5th- Ginger River, near the back early and then appeared to run in spots before closing stoutly in a better than looked effort for Riggins Racing.

6th- Mrs Officer sat at the back early and appeared to be faltering before finding her second wind and kicking it in to pass some foes in the stretch for Rampage Stable.

7th- Balance That Budget did not have enough speed to overcome the outside post draw and paid the price in what on paper looks lackluster. I say give her another shot going two turns when she gets a better post for Rock Creek.

8th- I Make Sexy Teeth ran lackluster today, but is tiny standing at only 15.1, so with maturity she could be at this level still for Martyparty.

9th- Perpetual Motion is also a little gal at 15.1 and only 1113lbs, so she also appears to need some seasoning. She battled near the lead for a long way before calling it a day, so I wouldn’t totally dismiss the effort today for Mo Mentum Farm.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES