Jehozacat Wires Field in Upset Endeavour Victory
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Photo: SV Photography
Jehozacat holds off Altea to win the Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Trainer Arnaud Delacour had another horse in mind when he first sized up the field for the $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Named Madame Milan, the 5-year-old Bernardini mare breezed twice for Delacour in January before the decision was finally made to transition her to a second career as a broodmare. That departure opened up a void for another of Delacour's runners, Jehozacat, to jump up and win the Feb. 8 test at odds of 16-1.
"I wasn't expecting her to beat a talented graded stakes winner already," said Delacour after Saturday's surprise victory. "But she likes the track and we were taking a shot. (Jockey Daniel) Centeno knows her and did a very good job. He timed it right and she did it very well. Even if the (winning) margin is short, she got up very well."
Far from favored in the six-horse field, Jehozacat and Centeno broke on top and never looked back. Riding the rail the whole way, the pair clicked off fractions of :24.73 and :48.97 through the half-mile, striding a comfortable two lengths ahead of the competition.
A. A. Azula's Arch rated just off the pace in second under Julien Leparoux. Heavy favorite Got Stormy followed in third, making a point to keep within striking distance of the leaders as they entered the far turn.
At the top of the stretch Got Stormy swung wide and dug in to try and run down the leader on the outside. For precious seconds it seemed as though the multiple graded stakes winner would find her second gear, but Jehozacat would not yield. In deep stretch Got Stormy began to tire, allowing for Altea—who had raced unhurried at the back of the pack under Joel Rosario—to cut a path between the runners down the inside.
Altea pushed hard in the final strides to draw almost on even terms with Jehozacat as the finish approached. The effort, while valiant, was not enough to edge the winner, who kept her neck in front at the finish line and picked up her first graded win in a final time of 1:42.44 on firm turf.
Altea held for second ahead of Andina Del Sur in third. Got Stormy took fourth followed by Phantom Opening and A. A. Azula's Arch to complete the order. Jehozacat paid $35.60, $15.60, and $20.40 on a $2 wager.
The win was the fourth score at Tampa Bay for Jehozacat, who entered off another strong gate-to-wire score in the Jan. 18 Wayward Lass Stakes over dirt.
The win was the second consecutive victory in the Endeavour for Delacour, who won the 2019 renewal with Hawksmoor. Coincidentally, that win was the was first graded stakes victory for Delacour at Tampa Bay.
"Last year it was a different scenario. Last year we were the horse to beat," said Delacour. "I was expecting a different race. She (Jehozacat) got up right in front. We could consider the mile and an eighth next time. I think she has a little bit more in her."
Just as Hawksmoor did before her, Delacour said Jehozcat will likely make her next appearance in the March 7 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) at Tampa Bay.
Campaigned by Lael Stables, Jehozacat was bred in Kentucky Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson out of the Catienus mare Precious Kitten, and is a full sister to the grade 3-winning, grade 1-placed Divining Rod . The 5-year-old daughter of Tapit improved her record to five wins and four seconds from 17 starts with $254,090 in earnings.