By Joe Bianca
Jamyson 'n Ginger (Bernardini), second by a half-length as the favorite in the GII Demoiselle S. over this track as a juvenile, will return to stakes company as the likely favorite in the GIII Go For Wand H. at the Big A Saturday.
Second in a Belmont optional claimer June 1, the $280,000 Fasig-Tipton March graduate was subsequently purchased from Magic Cap Stables by Juddmonte Farms as a future mate for their retiring champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song). Transferred to the Chad Brown barn from Rudy Rodriguez, the bay triumphed narrowly in a Big Sandy allowance Sept. 10 before dominating a local optional claimer Nov. 9. She earned a 100 Beyer for that effort, easily the closest she's come to matching the 103 figure she got for breaking her maiden by 15 1/4 lengths in the Belmont slop last fall.
Her chief rival as she looks for her first stakes win is four-time graded stakes winner and Go For Wand defending champion Highway Star (Girolamo). The hard-trying chestnut, victress of this year's GIII Distaff H., GII Ruffian S. and GII Gallant Bloom H. and runner-up in the GI Ballerina S., will try to bounce back from an 11th-place run in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Lucy N Ethel (During) stretches out beyond seven furlongs for the first time and looms the controlling speed in this one-mile test. A winner of four straight to begin her career, including the GII Prioress S. and GIII Old Hat S., the dark bay was well-beaten in her next two starts before rebounding in the Pumpkin Pie S. at six furlongs here Nov. 5.
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