Jezebel's Kitten Tops Full Field in Jessamine Stakes

The $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) drew a full field of 14 fillies, along with two also-eligibles for the Oct. 9 Keeneland feature. The 1 1/16-mile turf test offers a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) as a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event.

Heading up the field as the 4-1 morning-line favorite is Ilium Stables' Jezebel's Kitten, who is 2-for-2 with both starts at a mile. Brad Cox trains the Kitten's Joy  filly, a 4 3/4-length winner of the Aug. 31 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Jezebel's Kitten dropped back to sixth in that effort under Florent Geroux, who has the mount again Wednesday, before pulling clear. She won first time out Aug. 10 at Ellis Park. where she held on by a head after racing on the lead.

"It was kind of an odd race to watch," Cox said after the Kentucky Downs stakes. "She broke and put herself in position like she did first time out. I told Florent, if he could, to get her to settle behind a horse or two if possible. He did, and he said she just kind of shut off around the turn and almost lost interest. He nudged on her and tried to keep her into it, keep her involved. And once he got her out, she just took off. She was impressive. Very nice race. For a 2-year-old filly to do what she did ... off her first race, it was a big step forward."

Video: Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies S. (BT)

P. G. Johnson Stakes runner-up Sweet Melania, trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, will remain at her proven distance for the Jessamine. She broke her maiden third time out when stretched to 1 1/16 miles and tested on turf for the first time July 14 at Saratoga Race Course. The American Pharoah  filly then lost by a neck going the same distance in the Aug. 29 P. G. Johnson.

Sweet Melania is out of the Discreet Cat mare Sweet N Discreet, a stakes winner who was grade 2-placed at Gulfstream Park. She was a $600,000 purchase by West Bloodstock, agent for the Lows, from Gainesway's 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale consignment.

At morning-line odds of 5-1, Peter Brant's Indochine is entered for her stakes debut by trainer Chad Brown after breaking her maiden second time out at a mile Sept. 14 at Belmont Park. The War Front  filly is out of the multiple grade 1-placed Smart Strike mare Fascinating. She cost Brant's White Birch Farm $470,000 at the Keeneland September Sale where she was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency.

Mark Casse will send out another War Front daughter in Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Diamond Sparkles. The filly won second time out in England before making her North American debut in the Sept. 15 Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. In that race, Diamond Sparkles broke slow and came from seventh to finish fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Diamond Sparkles is the first foal out of Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) winner Diamondsandrubies. The filly is listed at program odds of 6-1.

Though a longer shot at 15-1, High On Gin will try to remain undefeated as she steps up in class for her third start. The Fury Kapcori  filly debuted Aug. 21 at Evangeline Downs where she won on a sloppy surface after the race was moved off the turf. She then rallied to win the 7 1/2-furlong Happy Ticket Stakes on Louisiana Downs' grass.

The field also includes Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies second Ask Bailey, Happy Ticket third Envied, and Fujairah, who was in runner up in the Aug. 31 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream, beaten by three-quarters of a length.

Entries: JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. (G2T)

Keeneland, Wednesday, October 09, 2019, Race 7

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 4:24 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Morning Gold (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Kenneth G. McPeek	10/1
2	2Envied (KY)	Miguel Mena	118	Ben Colebrook	20/1
3	3Fujairah (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Carlos A. David	15/1
4	4Indochine (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Chad C. Brown	5/1
5	5Jezebel's Kitten (KY)	Florent Geroux	120	Brad H. Cox	4/1
6	6Sweet Melania (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Todd A. Pletcher	9/2
7	7Takeitback (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	118	Laura Wohlers	20/1
8	8Witez (KY)	Calvin H. Borel	118	Ian R. Wilkes	15/1
9	9Diamond Sparkles (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Mark E. Casse	6/1
10	10Soothsaying (KY)	James Graham	118	William I. Mott	12/1
11	11Swanage (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Michael J. Maker	8/1
12	12High On Gin (FL)	Victor Espinoza	118	Chasey Deville	15/1
13	13Eye of a Soldier (KY)	Christopher P. DeCarlo	118	Timothy A. Hills	20/1
14	14Ask Bailey (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Michael J. Maker	12/1
15	15Lemon Scat (KY)	Channing Hill	118	Dale L. Romans	15/1
16	16Hollee Peach (KY)	Rayan Gazader	118	Donald H. Campbell	30/1