Jehozacat Roars to Decisive Debut Victory Sunday at Laurel
Jehozacat Roars to Decisive Debut Victory Sunday at Laurel
Jockey Boyce Making Jump Race Debut Thursday at Saratoga
Rainbow 6 Carryover of $9,465 for Return of Live Racing Friday
LAUREL, MD – Looking more like a seasoned runner than a first-time starter, Lael Stables’ homebred Jehozacat kicked off her career in impressive fashion with a decisive 5 ½-length victory in Sunday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park.
A juvenile daughter of leading sire Tapit out of the Catienus mare Precious Kitten, a multiple Grade 1 winner also campaigned by Lael’s Roy and Gretchen Jackson, Jehozacat ($7.80) ran five furlongs in 58.47 seconds over a fast main track.
Jehozacat is a full sister to Lael’s Grade 3 winner Divining Rod, third to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the 2015 Preakness, and had been working forwardly at the Fair Hill Training Center for her debut. It was the sharp maiden winner in a week for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who unveiled Goiaba and Greek Mythology last Sunday at Laurel.
“It’s exciting. It’s nice to have a filly do so well that’s related to Divining Rod,” Roy Jackson said. “This is early for us to run a 2-year-old. It seems like it’s always November or December before the 2-year-olds get going. Where she goes next is up to Arnaud. One step at a time.”
Theodosia, the 7-5 favorite, broke sharply but was outrun for the lead by Jehozacat and jockey Feargal Lynch from Post 6 in the field of nine 2-year-old fillies for the $40,000 maiden special weight. Jehozacat cruised through an opening quarter-mile in 23 seconds and a half in 46.59, dismissing a bold move from 60-1 long shot Prank Call to her outside.
Jehozacat remained in front rounding the far turn as In Jail began to launch a three-wide bid, opening up when set down by Lynch in the stretch. In Jail, a $175,000 yearling trained by Mike Trombetta, was 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Chauncey in third while Theodosia faded to fifth.
“She broke so well I just sat on her and as soon as I got to the quarter pole, I had so much horse,” Lynch said. “I just turned her loose and let her learn something today. She’s a nice filly. That was exciting.”
Jockey Boyce Making Jump Race Debut Thursday at Saratoga
Jockey Forest Boyce will be at Saratoga Race Course Thursday to ride Mrs. S K Johnston Jr.’s Amnicalola in the $75,000 Mrs. Odgen Phipps hurdle stake for trainer Jack Fisher.
It will mark the steeplechase debut for Boyce, who was aboard the 4-year-old Arch filly for her entry-level allowance victory by a neck on the flat June 30 at Laurel. They will break from Post 4 in the 2 1/16-mile event over National Fences at 135 pounds.
“I’ve been pestering Jack for some time about letting me ride one and finally he took me up on the offer a couple weeks ago,” Boyce said. “He said, ‘Come up to the farm and school some horses.’ I’m really excited. It will be fun.
“All those guys, I have respect for them all. I hope I look half as good as they look,” she added. “I’ve talked to some guys and I’ve schooled a couple times, so we’ll see what happens.”
Boyce guided Ollie Figgins-trained Discreet Deceit to a popular 2 ¼-length victory as the favorite in Sunday’s ninth race, a $42,000 entry-level allowance at 5 ½ furlongs originally carded for the turf.
“They had that one ready to roll. It was nice,” she said. “She ran well today. She settled nicely and wound up being much the best.”
Rainbow 6 Carryover of $9,465 For Return of Live Racing Friday
There will be a 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot carryover of $9,465.96 when live racing resumes with an 11-race card Friday beginning at 1:10 p.m.
Multiple winning tickets were sold with all six winners Sunday, each worth $266.38.
The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Friday’s Rainbow 6 spans Races 6-11 and includes four races over Laurel’s world-class turf course topped by a $47,000 upper-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the Bowl Game layout in Race 10 that drew a field of 12.
Note: Jockey Alex Cintron rode back-to-back winners Sunday aboard Repeat Repeat ($6.80) in the third race and Truly Hot ($7.20) in the fourth.
