Harmonize Shows New Dimension in Jessamine

Larkin Armstrong's Harmonize showed a new dimension Oct. 7 at Keeneland, coming from far off the pace with a strong stretch run to win the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (gr. IIIT) and an automatic berth in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT).

The 2-year-old Scat Daddy   filly raced 12th and then 10th in a group of 14 as longshot Carleigh Belle set off to lead through a quarter in :22.44 and a half in :47.02. In her previous two races Harmonize was more forwardly placed, including a Sept. 3 victory in the PG Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course when she prompted in second and then drew off by four lengths.

"Usually she's pretty quick out of the gate and I thought she'd probably be laying third or fourth," said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "There were two very quick fillies in there, one on the inside of us and one on the outside, and I thought she'd probably be stalking them. I was real surprised to see her as far back as she was."

Jockey Junior Alvarado, who has ridden Harmonize in all three of her starts, kept his cool even though his mount was 11th behind six furlongs in 1:13.51.

"She wasn't getting hold of the track the first part of the race," he said. "I didn't want to get after her too early; I wanted to let her get comfortable and let her pick up ground. By the end, she was much the best."

Given the signal to go, Harmonize looped eight wide into the stretch, swung out for the drive, and quickened with a tremendous kick through a 1:38.22 mile to put away Sapphire Kitten by a neck. Final time was 1:44.19 on turf rated firm.

Mott said his runner will contest the Breeders' Cup if all goes well.

"I haven't talked to the owner yet but I'm sure that he'd probably want to give her a chance as long as she's healthy. It's nice to see that she's versatile enough to come from back in the pack like she did," Mott said. "She struggled with ground early and once she got down the backside, she got a little better, a little better. When they turned for home, she turned on the after-burners and was good enough to run them down."

Owner Ken Ramsey said Sapphire Kitten also will go to the Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Joe Sharp if she can get in.

"We didn't get beat that much, and she didn't give up, she came right back," he said. "I think that should get us in."

"We were really pleased with the race," Sharp said. "It was her first time around two turns and the winner had already been around two turns. We were impressed with the way our filly was passed at the eighth pole and battled back inside. Hopefully, that was enough to get us in the Breeders' Cup because I think we have a legitimate contender. She definitely moved forward today."

Harmonize, favored at even money, paid $4, $2.80, and $2.40. Sapphire Kitten brought $7.20 and $5.60, and Outsider Art paid $7 while checking in 4 1/2 lengths back in third. Completing the order of finish were Lilly's Dream, Family Tree, Inconclusive, Clare View, Moms Choice, Theory of Change, Delicate Lady, Precious Love, Come to Mischief, Tia Flor, and Carleigh Belle.

Bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain III out of the Sky Mesa   mare Mesa Fresca, Harmonize now has two wins and a second from three starts. She was an $80,000 purchase from the 2014 Keeneland September sale by her owner when consigned by Brookdale Sales.