Miss Justify (Justify) rallied smartly along the fence in the stretch to capture Friday's $135,000 Wilton Stakes at Saratoga.
Third in the Smart Halo Stakes while making her final start for trainer Susan Cooney at Laurel last November, the bay made two previous attempts for Todd Pletcher this term, including a front-running, last-out win going a one-turn mile in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs June 1.
Backed at odds of 5-2 here, the rail-drawn Miss Justify chased from fourth through an opening quarter in :23.71. She crept up closer rounding the far turn, shot through an opening along the rail in the stretch and kicked home nicely to deliver a one-length victory over Striker Has Dial (Dialed In).
“It worked out and we were able to save ground and get in a good spot,” Pletcher said. “It's nice to see that she can come from off the pace. She was able to win wire-to-wire last time, so it's good to see.”
On a potential stretch-out to 10 furlongs for the GI Alabama Stakes Aug. 17, Pletcher added, “I think she'll definitely stretch out. I don't know if we'll be quite that ambitious just yet, but we'll keep all our options open.”
Miss Justify becomes the 32nd stakes winner worldwide for her leading young sire Justify. The winner's dam Swiss Alps had a filly by Liam's Map in 2023 and a colt by Epicenter in 2024. Swiss Alps is a half-sister to the SW & GISP Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday), who has gone on to produce current leading female sprinter Vahva (Gun Runner). Swiss Alps brought $105,000 from Sugarloaf while in foal to Epicenter at the 2023 KEENOV sale.
Flavien Prat gets win number THREE on the card for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Wilton Stakes aboard, MISS JUSTIFY, the 3YO daughter of @coolmoreamerica stallion Justify! pic.twitter.com/kbpP50vtrq
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 12, 2024
WILTON S., $135,000, Saratoga, 7-12, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.51, ft.
1–MISS JUSTIFY, 122, f, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Swiss Alps, by Majesticperfection
2nd Dam: Try to Remember, by Include
3rd Dam: Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike
($215,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). 1ST
BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Twin Oaks Bloodstock, LLC, IEE Racing,
Bulger, Joseph & Campbell, Will; B-Killora Stud, LLC (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Flavien Prat. $74,250. Lifetime Record:
5-3-0-1, $192,010.
2–Striker Has Dial, 120, f, 3, Dialed In–Lotta Lolly, by Smart
Strike. ($49,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $180,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Chief Horse Futures; B-Kingswood Farm
(KY); T-Horacio De Paz. $27,000.
3–Courbe, 120, f, 3, Quality Road–Ysteric, by Unbridled's Song.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $16,200.
Margins: 1, NK, 7HF. Odds: 2.75, 5.30, 10.40.
Also Ran: Lady Moscato, Bells Beach, Windy Walk, Dazzling Move. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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