Locust Grove (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
September 14, 2019
There was no question that Smokey Stover still felt good about Jinxed Queen, a horse that had not won in about a full calendar year. He would pick her up the departing Joshua Stables in private sales about a month ago for $400.000, and the Locust Grove would be her debut. Those placing bets believed in her, too, making her a huge favorite. Jinxed Queen would make all of them happy, snapping her losing skid, and hoping to start piecing together some wins again. It is the first win in the stake for both the trainer, and the jockey, T Gaffalione, and the race was won in a time of 1:42.19. Congratulations to them! Here’s a quick look at it!
1st- 3- Jinxed Queen (Smokey Stover) (4/5)- Our eventual race winner wanted no part of the early speed, and was content to go to the back of the field, spotting Fanatical Appeal about five lengths after a quarter mile. She was not bothered by some of the action that started to take place as the field reached the end of the backstretch, and continued to hold this position. She was told it was time to go within the turn, and at this time, her margin to the front would shrink. In the stretch, she had a nice clear lane to work with, and had a length and a half to make up with a furlong to go. Methodically reeled in the leaders, and completed the pass just in time to score the win.
2nd- 1- Hollywood Sister (Estero Farms) (7/2)- Got off to a decent start while on the rail, and would eventually assume a stalking position. Kept this position down the backstretch, matching strides with Style Cant Spoil, until they reached the top of the turn. At that point, she wanted to make her move, and push down on her running mate in order do so. Made quick work of Fanatical Appeal in the turn, though Style Cant Spoil still ran with her. In the process though, she left a wide gap for Jinxed Queen to come through. Held on well all the way to wire, and gets second to show for it.
3rd- 2- Style Cant Spoil (Night Rider Stables) (35/1)- Quick initially out of the gate, but was not interested in running with the same early speed as Fanatical Appeal. Maintained her stride throughout the backstretch, and responded well when Hollywood Sister indirectly told her it was time to go, or to get out of the way. Remained in good stride moving into the turn, but started to get hung out wide. She’d hang around, but that’s about all that can be said about it. Decent fight, but at the same time, a little more would have been useful.
4th- 4- Foxy Dame (Team 7 Illusions) (2/1)- Our pick to win would disappoint. Early on, she would run towards the back with Jinxed Queen. She was content with doing this throughout the backstretch and into the turn, still having about five lengths to make up. Despite running with Jinxed Queen the whole way to this point, she did not push forward at the same time, and waited longer to make her move. This would allow Jinxed Queen to get two length separation on her. From here, Foxy Dame was playing catchup, and she would not show much in the stretch.
5th- 5- Fanatical Appeal (Nakamura Stables) (24/1)- Broke sharply out of the gate, and after an initial battle with Style Cant Spoil, she would pull away and lead by a length moving into the opening turn, running a quarter in :23.95 and a half in :47.65.. She would continue lead down the backstretch as no one was testing her yet. Held the lead early in the turn, but lost interest once Hollywood Sister went by.
About The Winner- Jinxed Queen, trained by Smokey Stover, and ridden by T Gaffalione, is a four year old filly by Z Jinxed One, and is out of Thequeenhasspoken. She was bred in the great breeding state of Pennsylvania by Gdp Inc as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Smokey Stover for $400.000 last month from Joshua Stables. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her ninth in 19 starts, and her fifth stake win, all of which are graded. Her career earnings are now $1,351.900.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
Jinxed Queen | Smokey Stover | Gaffalione T | 0.75 | 1no | 1:42.19 | ||||
|
Hollywood Sister | Estero Farms | Contreras L | 3.50 | 21/2 | 1:42.21 | ||||
|
Style Cant Spoil | Night Rider Stables | Leparoux J R | 35.35 | 31/2 | 1:42.32 | ||||
|
Foxy Dame | Team 7 Illusions | Santana R Jr | 2.10 | 42 | 1:42.44 | ||||
|
Fanatical Appeal | Nakamura Stables | Bridgmohan S X | 23.95 | 5 | 1:42.86 |
Track: Fast
Time: :234 :473 1:111 1:42
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 3 – Jinxed Queen | 3.50 | 2.20 | 2.10 |
| 1 – Hollywood Sister | 2.70 | 2.50 | |
| 2 – Style Cant Spoil | 8.80 |
$1 Exacta: 3 – 1 Paid 10.20
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 1 – 2 Paid 84.00
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
