Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) repeated her 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut victory with a record-setting success in Keeneland's GII J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine S., a “Win and You're In” event for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. at this oval Nov. 6.
Running the field off their feet from the start, the 280,000gns TATOCT purchase graduated by five lengths going a mile on the lawn at Churchill Downs Sept. 1. She was hammered down to 3-2 favoritism to repeat in this black-type bow.
Taking up her preferred position at the head of affairs, Aunt Peal was strong on the engine, enjoying a loose lead as she doled out opening splits of :22.28 and :46.65. Turning for home in front under a hand ride from Florent Geroux, the bay was shaken up a bit in the lane and readily responded, effortlessly pulling clear in a new stakes record time of 1:40.86.
“She showed us a lot of talent in the mornings,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “I told someone after the race that that's the first time we ever cut her loose. She's very gifted. She's got a lot of natural speed–:46 and change, carrying speed two turns like that in the second start of her career–she's obviously very special. It was a big effort.
“I was going faster than I thought,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “Looking at the fractions, I was like 'Wow.' I thought they would be much slower than that. She has short legs, but they move very fast for sure. I'm very impressed with her.”
He continued, “We always loved her from the beginning. We thought she was a very nice filly. I had to make her work a little bit today down the stretch. In her first race, she didn't get anything out of it. She was pretty much on cruise control the whole time. If we want to be a factor in the Breeders' Cup, she needed to do a little something today. She was very impressive, and I'm very pleased with her.”
Pedigree Notes:
Aunt Pearl is the 41st graded winner and 76th black-type scorer for her sire Lope de Vega. Her dam, Scandinavian champion Matauri Pearl, is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Wekeela (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). The 11-year-old mare produced a Sea the Stars (Ire) filly in 2019 and a Lope de Vega colt in 2020. This is also the family of MG!SW Monsun (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}).
Wednesday, Keeneland
JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE S.-GII, $150,000, Keeneland, 10-7, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.86, fm.
1–AUNT PEARL (IRE), 118, f, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Matauri Pearl (Ire), by Hurricane Run (Ire)
2nd Dam: Moonrise (Ger), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Morning Queen, by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
TDN Rising Star 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (280,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and The Elkstone Group, LLC (Stuart Grant); B-Ecurie Des Charmes & Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $132,784. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spanish Loveaffair, 120, f, 2, Karakontie+%28Jpn%29">Karakontie {Jpn}–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat. ($35,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Ingrassia, 118, f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Infanta Branca, by Henrythenavigator. O-Don Alberto Stable; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $15,000.
Margins: 2HF, 2 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 1.50, 1.70, 5.50.
Also Ran: Arm Candy, Batyah, Navratilova, Taylor's Tourist, Momentous Miss, Beautiful Star, Gambling Cat, Lazy Summer Day.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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