Jas, Brickyard Belle Flash Talent, Become Hot Prospects

This column highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old maidens (the latter category only through June) with the potential for graded stakes success based on criteria such as a horse that has made no more than five starts and either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, has siblings that are graded/group winners, or has dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. 

Promising 2-year-olds Jas  and Brickyard Belle  are BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospects after scoring on turf this past week at Kentucky Downs and Saratoga Race Course, respectively.

Jas Professional in Second-Out Victory

Jas, fifth on debut over yielding ground Aug. 1 at Ellis Park, showed marked improvement following that experience, flashing speed over a mile distance from the inside in the eighth race Aug. 29 at Kentucky Downs. Pressured on the lead for the opening 6 furlongs of the race by favored Conroy , he dispatched that rival at the head of the stretch and gradually pulled clear from the rest of the pack on his way to a 4-length victory over Kurita's Folly . Conroy faded to fifth.

The victorious 10-1 shot was timed in 1:37.12 on firm turf after setting splits of :23.04, :46.56, and 1:11.27 under jockey Keith Asmussen, who was aboard for his father, Steve. Jas earned a 79 Equibase Speed Figure and a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

The chestnut colt's bloodlines point to a bright future. He is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify  , an Ashford Stud stallion whose runners have shown excellence over multiple surfaces, and is a half brother to fellow Asmussen trainee Hall of Fame🔥 , a son of Gun Runner   who captured the 2025 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. 

Jas was bred in Kentucky by Earle Macke out of the unraced Giant's Causeway mare Flag Day and now races for Red Lane Thoroughbreds.

Jas seems a logical candidate for a race such as the Oct. 4 Bourbon Stakes (G2T), a $400,000 grass race at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland.

Video: Kentucky Downs, Race 8, MSW

Brickyard Belle Comfortably Wins Debut

A couple of days earlier, Brickyard Belle ran to her expensive $600,000 price tag in rallying for a 4 1/2-length victory Aug. 27 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden turf dash for juvenile fillies at Saratoga. The Miguel Clement-trained daughter of Yaupon   was timed a sharp 1:01.95 on firm turf under a hand ride from Manny Franco, earning an 86 Equibase Speed Figure and an equivalent Beyer Speed Figure.

Purchased this April by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Brickyard Belle now races for the partnership of Brickyard Belle Racing, Beggs and Flowers, and Briles Family Stable.

Jim and Stephanie Briles of Briles Family Stable, on hand for the victory, expressed their excitement to broadcaster Acacia Clement in a post-race interview.

"We didn't know what we were getting into a year ago, and here we are," Jim Briles said, noting the victory came in just their third start as owners.

Brickyard Belle was even less experienced heading into Thursday's race. The race marked her career debut.

It never showed in her performance. She rated kindly in fourth, 5 lengths off the early pace, and quickly reeled in the leaders before striking the front in early stretch and pulling away.

Though Brickyard Belle finished like a filly who would seemingly appreciate additional ground, she is bred for speed. Besides being by 2021 Forego Stakes (G1) winner Yaupon, she is a sibling to a pair of talented sprinters in the grade 2-placed Johnny Unleashed  and five-time stakes winner Joe Shiesty , who also placed this spring in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs. Their best work has come on turf, with Joe Shiesty also recording stakes victories on Tapeta.

Video: Saratoga, Race 5, MSW