10/13/21

  5   KEE      Jessamine (GII) [BC]

     $200.000    2yoF      1 1/16m  Turf      122lbs

We now know that Molecule is ready, and I do mean READY!  Now a perfect two-for-two since the hostile take-over, the bay filly travelled the mile and a sixteenth in 1:40², showing a huge late burst down the center of the track and gave D J C Racing Stables the victory in Wednesday’s Jessamine (GII), here in Lexington.  Dismissed as a nearly 45/1 outsider, she is proving to be a very sharp claim.  Blac Widow, back on short rest and certainly a filly that has my attention, had a clear lead as they turned for home, but just couldn’t hold off the eventual winner, settling for the place.  Post-time favorite Zola was a length back in third and Lake Gunn grabbed the minor share, a half-length back of the third place finisher. 

The full field of twelve got away from the gate on the firm KEE turf and Live Another Day bounced right out to take the early lead, the threesome of Blac Widow, Girl You Ugly and Inola giving chase, a gap back to a line of horses that included Molecule from the rail, Zola and Rig For Red between and Wander from the outside, another gap to the trailing foursome of Be Genuine, Halls Cafeteria on her flank, Lake Gunn and Kitty Cat Meow Meow from the far outside.

Making their way around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside, five and a half furlongs to run and Blac Widow ranged up on the outside of Live Another Day to stick a head in front.  A gap of two back to Inola on the outside of Girl You Ugly, another length and a half to Molecule saving ground, Rig For Red between horses and Wander from the outside, then a gap of three back to the trailers, Halls Cafeteria, Lake Gunn, Kitty Cat Meow Meow and Be Genuine.

Continue down the backside an now nearing the far turn with three furlongs to run, this was becoming a one horse race as Blac Widow opened up by two and a half lengths.  Live Another Day a clear second at this point, Zola in behind that one, then a gap to Girl You Ugly.  Wander on the outside of Inola, Rig For Red between horses, Molecule losing some ground in behind that group, then another gap to Lake Gunn on the outside of Halls Cafeteria, Kitty Cat Meow Meow and Be Genuine could see them all. 

Moving around the far turn, to the top of the lane and flying past the three-sixteenths pole, Blac Widow had a clear lead, Zola now pressing forward and two and a half length behind the leader, Live Another Day along the rail and continuing to lose ground, Molecule showing a burst down the center of the track, Wander from the outside, and Girl You Ugly from the inside.  The rest of the field were trying to find more, as the run to the wire was on!

Deep stretch and to the finish, as they moved into the final sixteenth, Blac Widow continued to show the way, but the lead was down to a length and a half as Molecule was moving fastest of all down the center of the track, Zola just to her inside also trying to dig into the lead, with Lake Gunn and Wander trying to close from the extreme outside.  In the blink of an eye, Molecule moved up on the outside of Blac Widow and went by in the last seventy-five yards to take the win by a half length.  Blac Widow stayed on well to earn the place, a length in front of Zola in third, then three-quarters of a length to Lake Gunn in fourth.  Wander was fifth, Girl You Ugly sixth, Rig For Red seventh, Live Another Day eighth, Be Genuine ninth, Halls Cafeteria tenth, Inola eleventh and Kitty Cat Meow Meow closed this one out.   

Molecule is a 2yo bay filly by Creepy Time – Sequential, by Five Eyes, and she was bred in Cal by Keikowin racing.  Claimed two races back for $50.000, and undefeated for the new connections, she now shows two wins and a pair of seconds from her four lifetime starts, and earnings of $170.400.  It looks like she’s headed to DMR for BC Day – congrats to the connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm           Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10¹  1:40²
$1 Exacta: 2 – 10 Paid 522.30           $1 Trifecta: 2 – 10 – 5 Paid 1,381.20
Scratched: Lucky Number Nine, Mon Dieu, Tell Milady, Tell The Queen

Molecule raced mid-pack saving ground, lost ground down the backside and into the far turn, began to move forward 5p into the lane, continued to gain through the lane getting on even terms with the pace-setter at the sixteenth pole, showed more, up in the final strides.  Blac Widow tracked the early pace, up to take over as they left the clubhouse turn, expanded the lead into the lane, headed at the sixteenth pole, game effort, second best.  Zola raced mid-pack until midway on the back stretch, began to move forward from there, 3p for the drive, evenly through the stretch.  Lake Gunn taken in hand after the break, raced towards the rear to mid-way on the far turn, fanned, best foot too late.  Wander rated early, some late interest, wide trip.  Girl You Ugly tracked the pace inside to mid stretch, tired.  Rig For Red evenly, no factor.  Live Another Day broke alertly, crossed over to gain the rail while setting the pace to the back stretch, headed, steady retreat.  Be Genuine was outrun.  Halls Cafeteria was not a factor.  Inola showed early interest, tired.  Kity Cat Meow Meow was outrun. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP