Jace's Road Bounces Back to Win Gun Runner Stakes
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Jace's Road captures the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course
In a race that figures to produce contenders for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots' well-supported prep races for the Triple Crown, Jace's Road posted an impressive front-running score in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes Dec. 26 at the New Orleans track.
Back on a fast track after an off-the-board performance as the 2-1 favorite in a sloppy edition of the Street Sense Stakes (G3) Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs, Jace's Road posted his best race to date. The son of Quality Road broke well under Florent Geroux, cruised through a half-mile in :48.18 while pressed by 4-5 favorite Determinedly , maintained that advantage through the far turn, and then drew off in the stretch to win by a widening 5 1/2 lengths.
The connections of West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables figure to be looking forward to the new year after Jace's Road completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.85 to secure his first stakes win. Trained by Brad Cox, Jace's Road easily won his six-furlong debut Aug. 6 at Ellis Park and followed with a grade 3-placing when third in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) Sept. 17 at Churchill when stretched out to two turns.
The poor performance in the Street Sense followed before Jace's Road returned to top form Monday as he also earned 10 qualifying points toward the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Raise Cain earned his second straight stakes-placing when he rallied in the stretch to finish second, punching past third-place Determinedly in the final yards.
Video: Gun Runner S. (BT)
Pretty Mischievous Takes Untapable
Pretty Mischievous earned 10 points toward qualifying for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) by winning the $100,000 Untapable Stakes Monday. The race is a qualifier for the May 5 showcase at Churchill. 
Pretty Mischievous wins the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course
Winning the one-mile and 70-yard race by 3 1/4 lengths, the daughter of Into Mischief did her multiple leading sire proud. The Godolphin homebred stalked the lead from the start, keeping within reach of the early leader, All About Me , who posted fractions of :24.26 and :48.31 through the opening quarter and half mile.
As the field reached the half-mile pole, Pretty Mischievous moved forward, splitting the two leaders, All About Me and Hayunevano , running three wide around the far turn.
Reaching the front of the field through six furlongs in 1:13.67, Pretty Mischievous only added to her lead from there before stopping the clock at 1:44.03.
The Alys Look finished second. Favored Vahva salvaged what could have been a disastrous start to come in third. She stumbled out of the starting gate and then bumped with Hang the Moon to fall to the back of the field of nine 2-year-old fillies. Jockey Luis Saez maneuvered in and out of traffic to finish 8 3/4 lengths back.
Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh, paid $5.40 to win. Out of the Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer , Pretty Mischievious improves to 3-0-1 in four starts with $241,310 in earnings. The mare has three foals, two are starters with both having won. Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm for $250,000.