Juliet Foxtrot Dances to $150,000 Gallorette Victory
Juliet Foxtrot Dances to $150,000 Gallorette Victory
Even-Money Favorite Snaps Six-Race Losing Streak
BALTIMORE – Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Juliet Foxtrot snapped a six-race losing streak dating back to last July by overtaking pacesetter Jabuticaba from her stalking spot on the far turn and powering through the Pimlico Race Course stretch for a one-length triumph in Saturday’s $150,000 Gallorette (G3).
The 69th running of the Gallorette for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass was the first of seven graded events on a 12-race, all-stakes Preakness Day program featuring the $1 million Preakness (G1) and $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2).
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, who won the 2017 Gallorette on Cambodia, Juliet Foxtrot ($4.20) completed the distance in 1:49.24 over a turf course listed as yielding. It was the first win for the 5-year-old mare since her only previous graded-stakes victory in the July 2019 Modesty Handicap (G3) at Arlington Park.
Jabuticaba took up her typical front-running spot early went a quarter-mile in 25.24 seconds and a half in 50.49 with Geroux biding his time in second racing in the clear to her outside. Geroux gave Juliet Foxtrot her cue midway around the turn and the daughter of British-bred Dansili danced to the lead after six furlongs in 1:15.92 and had enough left to turn back a late run from Grade 2 winner Varenka.
Varenka, who trailed the field in the early going, finished 2 ¼ lengths ahead of No Mo Lady in third. Varenka is trained by Graham Motion, who also ran second in the 2019 Gallorette with Thewayiam.
Juliet Foxtrot had raced only three times previously this year, including a strong third behind six-time Grade 1 winner Rushing Fall in the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley (G1) July 11 at Keeneland. Last out she pressed the pace before tiring to fourth in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) Sept. 5.
Gallorette retired in 1986 as the world’s leading money-winning mare, with earnings of $445,535. She won 21 of 72 starts and placed in 39 stakes, capturing the 1945 Pimlico Oaks and being named champion handicap mare of 1946. She was elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1962.
$150,000 Gallorette (G3) Quotes
Ricky Giannini, Assistant to Winning Trainer Brad Cox (Juliet Foxtrot) – “Definitely some class relief here helped. We just hadn’t been able to find the right spots and get her going, but she got the win today.
“[Jockey] Florent [Geroux] read it right. There wasn’t much speed in the race. He kind of hustled her out of the gate and let the long shot go, just tipped out and gave her a perfect stalking trip and she kicked on.”
Florent Geroux, Winning Jockey (Juliet Foxtrot) – “The ‘7’ horse looked like she had a lot of speed. I just wanted to break good and get away from there and not be on the rail. I wanted to make sure I got a clear shot. I sat second place all the way and when I asked her, she went on. We were concerned how far she wasn’t to go. I think she’s a true miler. I think she’s more effective on the firm turf. The ground was a concern, but she was able to show off her class. She won on her class today, and not on what she likes.”
Graham Motion, Trainer (Varenka, 2nd) – “I’m very pleased with her race. She ran very well. [Jockey] Trevor [McCarthy] knows what he is doing. A little further and she might of gotten there. The winner is a good filly.”
