March 28, 2024

Jessamine, WAYI for BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, attracts full field

Jessamine contender Concrete Rose rallied from eight lengths down to win her debut going away (Coglianese Photos)

The final “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race of 2018 will be held Wednesday as Keeneland plays host to the $200,000 Jessamine (G2), a 1 1/16-mile prep for the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 2.

It was a case of the last being first in this race a year ago. Rushing Fall was the last horse to earn a an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup when cruising by more than three lengths in the Jessamine, and then turned around to prevail in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar by three parts of a length for trainer Chad Brown.

Brown on Wednesday will send out Fierce Scarlett, the 7-2 morning line favorite in this year’s edition. The Scat Daddy filly was a rough-trip fourth in her debut at Saratoga, but rebounded to graduate by more than four lengths at Belmont over yielding ground.

Multiple stakes winner My Gal Betty invades from Canada for trainer Roger Attfield following a one-length loss in the Natalma (G1), but the Point of Entry miss drew post 13. Farther outside in post 14 is Monkeys Uncle, who maintained her unbeaten record with a half-length decision in the six-furlong Selima at Laurel last month.

Another with prior stakes appearance is Moravia, the lone European shipper in the field who exits a second-place effort in the Silver Flash (G3) at Leopardstown. The winner of that seven-furlong test, Skitter Scatter, followed up with victories in the Debutante (G2) and Moyglare Stud (G1).

In addition to Fierce Scarlett, a number of other recent maiden winners could make their presence felt. Rusty Arnold sends out Concrete Rose, who won at first asking going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga in quick time. Other leading stables are represented by Pakhet (Todd Pletcher), Princess Carolina (Kenny McPeek), Speedy Solution (Wesley Ward), and Zalia (Brad Cox).