Already a proven winner over the 1 1/16-mile trip, Buchu (Justify) made the jump from maiden winner to graded-stakes winner Friday with an eye-catching come-from-behind performance in the GII Jessamine S. on Keeneland's opening day.
Facing her fifth track in as many starts, the dark bay debuted with a pair of thirds on the dirt–first at Ellis Park June 16 and then to Saratoga in a rained-off event July 30. Sixth once she finally got on the turf in upstate New York Aug. 20, Buchu broke through at 4-1 by a clear 4 3/4 lengths when shipped back to Kentucky under the Twinspires not even two weeks ago Sept. 23.
Showcasing her preferred off-the-pace style again Friday, Buchu, who broke from the middle of the gate, let the majority of the field pass her in the opening furlong and wound up contesting ninth outside of Smooth Waves (English Channel) with only 41-1 shot Moonlight Gambler (Malibu Moon) behind her. Paced upfront by Bella Haze (Flameaway) and Asternia (Astern {Aus}), the field spaced themselves out through an opening quarter in :22.84. Buchu, now in a solo ninth, dropped all the way back to last as she was initially outsprinted into the far turn. Angled out widest of all with a quarter-mile to run, the 5-1 shot unleashed a furious rally inside the final furlong to pass the entire field and win going away by open lengths, crossing the wire with no one even within closing distance of her.
“I think sometimes horses for courses, so maybe riders for horses,” said winning trainer Phil Bauer on his filly's relationship with jockey Martin Garcia. “He really gets a lot of credit for developing this filly. He got her from three-eighths all the way forward and he decided to keep his tack in Kentucky, so when we went to New York, [jockey] Tyler [Gaffalione] jumped aboard. Mother Nature got in our way with the first start and then a troubled trip in the second one up there with Tyler. He didn't do anything wrong, but he was out of town when she ran back and we knew Martin loved her, so he hopped back aboard for her last breeze before her maiden win [at Churchill Downs Sept. 23], and we were confident going into that, as we were a few others, but in racing you need some luck to go with you. I'm just overwhelmed and really happy for Mr. Rigney, now with one that he bred. Cue the Mamas and the Papas, we're 'California Dreamin' .”
Pedigree Note:
A $275,000 RNA out of Keeneland September last year, Buchu was retained by her breeder and became the 19th graded/group winner worldwide for her Triple Crown-winning sire. She is the first foal out of a winning Galileo mare who is herself a daughter of MGSW Naples Bay (Giant's Causeway) and a full-sister to GSW First Minister (Ire). Third dam Cappucino Bay is seen in most pedigrees as the dam of MGISW and perennial leading sire Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire}). Flowering Peach reported an Uncle Mo filly this Spring and was covered by Golden Pal for 2024.
#10 Buchu rolls on by to win the G2 Jessamine S. at Keeneland for trainer Phil Bauer with Martin Garcia in the irons! 🍀
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/bxfa6yn1IC
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 6, 2023
Friday, Keeneland
JESSAMINE S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND NOVEMBER-GII, $350,000, Keeneland, 10-6, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.48, gd.
1–BUCHU, 118, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Flowering Peach (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Naples Bay, by Giant's Causeway
3rd Dam: Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($275,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O/B-Rigney Racing, LLC (KY); T-Philip A. Bauer; J-Martin Garcia. $200,725. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-2, $294,955. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pharoah's Wine, 118, f, 2, American Pharoah–Sweeping Paddy, by Paddy O'Prado. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-William Pacella, Nancy Delony, and Frank Shoop; B-Pacella Racing, Frank L. Jones, Nancy Delony & Frank Shoop (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $64,750.
3–Crown Imperial, 118, f, 2, Classic Empire–Mi Fiori, by Congrats. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-4 G Racing (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $32,375.
Margins: 3 3/4, NO, NK. Odds: 5.65, 13.87, 8.92.
Also Ran: Bella Haze, Moonlight Gambler, Smooth Waves, Appellate, Abeyance, Time to Dazzle, Toupie, Asternia.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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