BackTrack: My Juliet Makes Grade in Black-Eyed Susan

Racing for R. R. Ladd, My Juliet made her first start in April of last year, finishing a head behind Bold and Modest in a Fonner Park maiden sprint. My Juliet did not race again for some six months, then she closed out her juvenile campaign with consecutive victories in a maiden race, two allowance tests, and the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The Pocahontas marked My Juliet's first race for George Weasel, who acquired the filly privately from Ladd.

This season, My Juliet won against allowance company her first time out, then placed in the Ashland (G3) and La Troienne Stakes in her next two races. The filly then ran fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G2) in her last start prior to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G3). In receipt of five pounds each from favored Aunt Jin and third-choice Funalon, My Juliet was sent away at 14-1 for the Black-Eyed Susan. My Juliet led throughout, defeating Gala Lil by four lengths in time three seconds slower than the track record.

My Juliet's dam, My Bupers, was bred by Larry Welsch from Princess Revoked, whose other foals included 1973 Imp Stakes division winner Readyfourshoes. Unraced at 2, My Bupers started 13 times at 3, placing in four races and earning $1,581. The mare was consigned by Welsch to the 1972 Keeneland January breeding stock sale, where she was purchased for $8,000 in the name of Westwind Farms, a Bowling Green, Ky., breeding establishment owned by J. R. Bettersworth.

My Juliet was consigned by J. R. and Jay Bettersworth to the 1973 Keeneland fall yearling sale, where the filly was purchased for $7,500 by James Conway, agent. The Black-Eyed Susan winner is one of three added-money winners bred by Bettersworth in his own name: he has bred five additional stakes winner in various partnerships.

My Juliet followed Gallant Bob, Naughty Jake, and Nicosia (which was scratched from the Black-Eyed Susan) as the fourth 1975 stakes winner sired by Gallant Romeo. Sire of a total of 13 added-money winners, syndicated Gallant Romeo stands at L. P. Doherty's The Stallion Station near Lexington.