GII Jessamine Stakes

References on the subject of time are legion. "Time is of the essence." "A stitch in time saves nine." The Rolling Stones sang in 1974, "And time waits for no one." Speaking of endgames there is, "No amount of money ever bought a second of time"--you can use that Tony Stark nugget if you want. In the world of Thoroughbred auctions, everyone from the consignors to the bidders are always racing against the clock. Of course, there is plenty of innovation out there to assist before a decision needs to...

The 35th running of the GII Jessamine Stakes--a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar--was the graded coming out party for Imaginationthelady (Not This Time--Romanticism, by War Front) who punched her ticket to the seaside oval at the end of the month and the filly also led a Not This Time Trifecta for her sire at Keeneland on Friday. A $300,000 Keeneland September buy, the juvenile broke her maiden by 1 1/2 lengths at first asking over the Kentucky...

Friday is the start of the unofficial Kentucky state holiday known as Opening Weekend at Keeneland, and GI Spinaway victress Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) headlines a strong card for fantastic racing not just at the venue but across the country. Largely considered the last hurrah for anyone trying to get into the World Championships by way of the 'WAYI' challenge series, several tracks across the country have such opportunities in October, and Keeneland will be hosting three such chances on Friday. The last of the graded races for the opening...

May Day Ready (Tapit), the runner-up in last Friday's GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, will make her next start in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan Dec. 8, according to a tweet on X by her trainer Joseph Lee. Lee posted, "After discussing May Day Ready's future with Mr. and Mrs. Doyle and George Barnes @katierichfarms, the decision has officially been made to ship her to JAPAN to run her in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 8th." The...

It was a three-way go at the end of 8 1/2 furlongs of Friday's GII Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, a 'Win and You're In' challenge race for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, and when the dust had settled, it was KatieRich Stable LLC's May Day Ready (Tapit) who got her nose down on the wire first over Totally Justified (Justify) to her inner and favored Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) to her outside. Snatched up just after the break, May Day Ready was tough...