Dismissed at 14-1 in Saturday's six-horse GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont, Steve Asmussen trainee She's a Julie (Elusive Quality) rediscovered her best form to narrowly defeat favored Point of Honor (Curlin) and earn a guaranteed spot into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff later this season. Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) had to settle for third after chasing hot splits early. She's a Julie took the GI La Troienne S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard some 13 months ago, but hadn't returned to the winner's circle since then and had last been seen finishing a dull sixth in Churchill's May 23 Shawnee S. in her first start of the season.
Ridden for position early by Ricardo Santana, Jr., She's a Julie grabbed a rail spot just in front and inside of Ollie's Candy while sitting fourth. She moved into a clear third entering the bend after a :45.98 half mile, and tipped out for running room at the head of the lane with Point of Honor on her right flank. Ollie's Candy put away her pace foe at the head of the lane, but was clearly leg weary as her lead began to evaporate in the final furlong. She's a Julie boxed on gamely in between, and got her nose down on the line just ahead of Point of Honor.
Saturday, Belmont Park
OGDEN PHIPPS S.-GI, $300,000, Belmont, 6-13, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/16m, 1:40.27, ft.
1–SHE'S A JULIE, 122, m, 5, by Elusive Quality
1st Dam: Kydd Gloves, by Dubai Millennium (GB)
2nd Dam: Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Spanish Parade, by Roberto
($160,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Bradley Thoroughbreds,
Cambron, Tim, Cambron, Anna, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing, LLC
and Madaket Stables LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr.. $165,000. Lifetime Record:
19-7-2-4, $1,187,880. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Point of Honor, 120, f, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: Zayanna, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Heavenly Cat, by Tabasco Cat
3rd Dam: In Excelcis Deo, by Forty Niner
($825,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners and Stetson Racing, LLC; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY);
T-George Weaver. $60,000.
3–Ollie's Candy, 122, m, 5, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Afternoon Stroll, by Stroll
2nd Dam: Gertie, by Danzatore
3rd Dam: Granny Ruth, by Key to the Mint
($45,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP). O/B-Paul & Karen Eggert (KY);
T-John W. Sadler. $36,000.
Margins: NO, NK, 8 1/4. Odds: 14.70, 2.00, 2.05.
Also Ran: Blamed, Pink Sands, Golden Award. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
“Everybody put a lot of effort into this filly,” Santana said. “Steve [Asmussen] said he wanted me to go to New York. She's doing good. I worked her and we were really happy with her. Steve knows what he's doing and I always listen to him. Today, she was feeling good. We got a great break. I sat in the spot I wanted. I knew she was going to give it to me, and she kicked it in. She gave me a nice kick.”
Asmussen's New York-based assistant Toby Sheets added, “I had to watch it one more time to be sure [she had won.] It was very close… I said to Ricardo before the race that there was a lot of pace in there, and that's how the race unfolded. It was a very patient ride and the pace up front helped. She ran super.”
A romping winner of the GIII Iowa Oaks at three, She's a Julie was second–a neck ahead of then still emerging superstar Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute)–in the GI Alabama S. that August at Saratoga. Her other victory from six tries last term came in the GIII Bayakoa S. in February. Other outings in 2019 included thirds in the GII Fleur de Lis H., GIII Shuvee S. and GI Personal Ensign. She finished her season off with a speed-and-fade fourth in the GI Juddmonte Spinter S. in October at Keeneland.
Pedigree Notes:
Elusive Quality succumbed to old age in 2018, the same year his final crop of just 20 foals was born, but his influence is far from over. She's a Julie is just one of 54 graded scorers for the son of Gone West, who has 135 black-type winners overall. His definitive runner will likely always be 2004 champion Smarty Jones, but the son carrying his name forward in the breed is Quality Road, who ranks among the elite sires of the current generation as evidenced by Friday's $1.25-million OBS Spring session topper (hip 1018). She's a Julie is 3×4 to Mr. Prospector out of a rarity in the annals of Thoroughbred racing: a Dubai Millennium (GB) mare. The stellar MG1SW Dubai Millennium sired an abbreviated single crop of just 56 foals before his tragic early death, resulting in current top European sire Dubawi (Ire) and the dams of four stakes winners to date. She's a Julie has one younger sibling, a full-brother born in 2017 but as yet unnamed. Kydd Gloves is out of MGSW Parade Queen (A.P. Indy), whose GSW and GISP daughter Untouched Talent (Storm Cat) produced GISW Bodemeister (Empre Maker) and brought $5 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
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