Krikorian's Just F Y I Prevails in Juvenile Fillies

George Krikorian has enjoyed top-level success in racing, but in the first 10 months of 2023 a grade 1 win had eluded the owner. 

That continued to be the case as of 1:43 p.m. ET Oct. 7, but by 2:18 p.m. that day, Krikorian had claimed two grade 1 wins. After that change of fortune in a New York minute on a gray day at Aqueduct Racetrack, Krikorian extended his roll Nov. 3 when on the other side of the country one of those two winners, homebred Just F Y I , pressured favorite Tamara  throughout the early going before proving resolute in the stretch to win the $1.84 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

"It's incredible to have won three grade 1 races," said Krikorian, who has the other horse from that day at Aqueduct, War Like Goddess , entered against males in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). "It's just been incredible."

Much of the pre-race attention focused on Tamara, a daughter of Bolt d'Oro   out of Breeders' Cup legend Beholder , who captured the 2012 edition of the Juvenile Fillies on her way to three victories in the World Championships. Tamara broke well under Mike Smith, the leading rider in Breeders' Cup history with 27 wins who at 58 was looking to become the oldest jockey to win a World Championships race.

After breaking from post 7, Tamara was able to clear and gradually move inside through the first turn as she completed a quarter-mile in :22.47. But Just F Y I and jockey Junior Alvarado, after breaking from post 12, stayed close while pressing the early leader through a half-mile in :46.60 before turning up the pressure through six furlongs in 1:10.95.

Just F Y I would take command inside the three-sixteenths pole as Tamara faded. After opening a clear advantage, Just F Y I had just enough to hold off Matron Stakes winner Jody's Pride , sent off at 17-1. Just F Y I prevailed by a neck in a battle of daughters of Triple Crown winners as Just F Y I is by Justify, who swept the classics in 2018, and Jody's Pride is by American Pharoah  , who entered that exclusive club in 2015. 

Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner Candied  finished a close third, after a bit of a slow start from the inside post under Luis Saez.

In completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.58 on a fast track, Just F Y I earned her second straight grade 1 win after taking the Frizette Stakes (G1) in the slop at the Belmont at the Big A meeting Oct. 7. She has three wins in as many starts after winning on debut going seven furlongs Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

"It's pretty unusual for a horse to win a grade 1 off of just one maiden race," Mott said. "She showed us she could do it; we didn't force her. She just showed that she was ready to run and we felt like as well as she had run, that she deserved a shot in the Frizette and it paid off."

Winning rider Alvarado said his confidence built as Just F Y I engaged Tamara.

"By the half-mile pole I was excited. I knew what I had under me," Alvarado said. "But I had to respect (Tamara). She's a very nice filly too. At that point I thought I had a good chance at it. Right when I turned for home and I asked her, she took off very nicely and held off all the way to the wire."

Jody's Pride secured her first grade 1 placing after also racing near the lead throughout under jockey Flavien Prat. Jody's Pride is campaigned by Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable and trained by Jorge Abreu, who earned his second placing in a Breeders' Cup race.

"A great ride and a great finish—she put in a great effort," Abreu said. "It was her third time out, third different track, and I was stretching her out. I was concerned about the distance because she had never run this far before. Turning for home, I was screaming my head off. I thought she was going to get there. She is a real nice horse. We have liked her since day one. I am beyond pleased and happy."

Third-place Candied is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Tamara faded to seventh. "We'll have to back up and give her a little chance to catch up, start over again. Simple as that," said trainer Richard Mandella.

Just F Y I is out of stakes-placed Star Act , by Street Cry, who has produced three winners from as many starters. Star Act is a daughter of Starrer, a two-time grade 1 winner for Krikorian.

Just F Y I is the first Breeders' Cup winner for Justify  , who saw his second winner a race later when Hard to Justify  won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Justify will stand the 2024 season for $200,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.