Irish Jasper Draws Away in Victory Ride
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Derek Ryan's Irish Jasper continued a three-race stakes-winning streak and earned her second grade III in a row July 4, closing with a wide rally and drawing away in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park.
The 3-year-old daughter of First Defence came off a win in the May 15 Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III) and aced the 6 1/2 furlong Victory Ride in similar fashion, swinging four wide and setting down for the drive while putting added distance between herself and five rivals. Those two grade III victories were earned for her owner, who also trains her, after taking the April 26 Belle Harbor Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"I think she's the best 3-year-old filly in the country," Ryan said. "The seven-eighths is going to be perfect for the (Longines) Test (gr. I, Aug. 8, at Saratoga Race Course); that's the next thing for her. We'll see where we are after that. I bought her off a friend of mine last year in Ocala, and it worked out great."
It was a last-to-first move from Irish Jasper, who was content to run at the back of the pack under jockey Javier Castellano as 21-1 shot Super Saks headed out with a 1 1/2-length lead up the backstretch for a quarter in :22.01 and a half in :45.62.
The front-runner spit the bit heading into the far turn, while Kathballu and Miss Ella looked ready to battle it out straightening away for home. But Irish Jasper was making her move and took over through three-quarters in 1:10.01, opening up by daylight before finishing in 1:16.70 on a fast track.
"Today we were very fortunate," Castellano said. "She broke well out of the gate and put me in a good spot. There was a lot of speed in the race. I learned from the first time I rode her and it paid off today. Phenomenal filly. She did it the right way today and I give all the credit to Derek Ryan to put me on the horse, because anybody could ride that horse."
Even-money favorite Enchanting Lady, trained by Bob Baffert, kicked in late and got up for the place three lengths back. Kathballu was third and Miss Ella finished fourth, beating out Promise Me Silver, who was in tight on the rail. Super Saks completed the order of finish.
Irish Jasper paid $11.80, $4.40, and $2.80 at odds of 4-1, while Enchanting Lady paid $2.90 and $2.30 as the even-money favorite. Kathballu brought $3.30 to show.
Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Courtney Sr., from the Mr. Greeley mare Irish Connection, Irish Jasper sold for $12,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale to D & P Stables when consigned by Stonebridge. The Victory Ride score improved her record to six wins and a third from nine starts and earnings of $312,800. She is also the winner of the 2014 Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.