Up against a worthy set of accomplished foes, Just One Time proved herself with a tremendous effort April 9 to win the $439,850 Madison Stakes (G1) during a blustery spring day at Keeneland.
The 4-year-old filly moved from eighth in a nine-horse field to run down Bell's the One in midstretch, besting her grade 1-winning rival by three-quarters of a length in the seven-furlong race.
Just One Time tracked well off the pace set by fellow Brad Cox trainee Lady Rocket , who showed the way through a quarter in :22.11 and a half in :44.50. As Bell's the One swung out to try a last-to-first move, Just One Time was briefly outkicked by that rival but chased her down late to win over a muddy track in 1:22.79 under Flavien Prat. She paid $6.60 as the slight favorite.
Defending winner Kimari finished third, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Lady Rocket.
Cox focused on Lady Rocket as she led the way, but his focus shifted quickly as Just One Time picked up momentum.
"I was watching Lady Rocket. I thought she was in a good spot...When I did see the :44.50, I thought 'OK, well, where's the other filly,'" Cox said. "(Just One Time) came rolling down the middle of the track and obviously ran down a grade 1 winner, Bell's the One. She's a very good mare in her own right and I was happy to pick up the grade 1 for these guys."
Making her season debut for trainer Neil Pessin, Bell's the One was seeking her first win in the Madison after dead-heating for second in 2021 and running third in 2020. The daughter of Majestic Perfection who was coming off of an extended break will likely be aimed towards a start in the Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1) at Churchill Downs, a race she won in 2020, and then the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in November.
"Last year I kind of let her tell me when she was ready to run and we spaced (her races) a little earlier in the year and then we ran a little closer towards the end of the year," Pessin said. "It's just going to depend on how she does there on what road we take to get to the Breeders' Cup."
Wesley Ward trainee Kimari will likely be steered towards stakes races at Royal Ascot and Saratoga Race Course, also with the eventual goal to run at the World Championships.
"We'll be looking at Ascot, she was second twice over there...I've always wanted to run her in the Breeders' Cup Sprint against the boys because I think she's much better at three-quarters (than) seven-eighths," Ward said. "But we'll have to see at that time of the year. Hopefully we're still shooting strong."
Cox said he was thrilled with Just One Time's performance.
"She definitely looked amazing today and it was a big effort," he said. "It's huge. It's Keeneland. People bring their best to Keeneland. This was a grade 1 race. Sometimes you look at grade 1 races and you're like 'It may not be the toughest grade 1,' but this was a very tough grade 1. From top to bottom, it was a great group of fillies, and I'm just very proud of both fillies."
Owned by breeder Warrior's Reward and partner Commonwealth New Era Racing, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Not This Time improved her record to six wins out of seven starts with earnings of $525,195. She represents one of two grade 1 winners for her sire, the other being 2020 Starlet Stakes (G1) winner Princess Noor .
When asked where he will point the filly next, Cox said that a start in the May 7 Derby City Distaff could be in the future but he is mainly working towards being back at Keeneland in the fall.
"It's a possibility. It's back a little quick. Look, she just won a grade 1. The Breeders' Cup will probably be the goal moving forward. The number one goal (is to) work our way back from there. We're just going to have to see how things are coming up and how it plays out."
Just One Time is out of the Speightstown mare Ida Clark , who has produced four winners from five starters. The mare also produced stakes winner Black Stetson . She has a 2-year-old Goldencents colt who went to Quarter Pole Enterprises for $150,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and a yearling Runhappy filly. She was booked to Catholic Boy for the 2022 season.