English invader Choisya (GB) ( Night Of Thunder {Ire}) survived an objection to claim her first elite victory in Saturday's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, and according to her trainers, will now point to the GI Just A Game Stakes June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained mare registered a 100 Beyer in that victory, and with the race offering a fees-waived berth into the Just A Game, Ed Crisford reports that they will be taking advantage of their winnings. Until then, Choisya will ship home to the U.K. to enjoy a quick spell before preparations begin in earnest for her next transatlantic trip.
“We're delighted with Choisya's win yesterday. She's been improving all winter long in Dubai and obviously put up a career-best effort yesterday in such a great race like the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland,” Crisford said.
“The plan is to bring her back home to the U.K. and give her a couple of weeks and then prepare her for the Just a Game at Saratoga. We're really, really pleased with her. She's improving and a tough filly. Hopefully, she has a very fun year ahead of her.”
The reported plan is to follow a similar path to that of the Charlie Appleby-campaigned Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who parlayed her European group form into Grade I wins in New York via the Just A Game and GI Diana Stakes before ending her career finishing fourth in Keeneland's GI First Lady Stakes in 2021.
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