Break Even Remains Undefeated in Jersey Girl
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Break Even wins the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park
Klein Racing's homebred Break Even ran her record to 5-0 with a frontrunning victory in the $139,500 Jersey Girl Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park. Already a grade 2 winner, the filly is now being aimed for the seven-furlong Longines Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 3 at Saratoga Race Course.
"It was a positive race and hopefully a building block towards the Test at Saratoga," trainer Brad Cox said.
"I didn't train her real aggressively leading up to this. I thought it made sense to get one into her, with the Test being the goal. We'll take her back home and train her up to the Test."
Break Even's race prior to the Jersey Girl came at her Churchill Downs base May 3 when she made her graded debut in the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G2). She was a 5 1/2-length winner in that seven-furlong event on a sloppy track and shortened up to six furlongs for Sunday's race.
Facing three other sophomore fillies, Break Even jumped fast from the gate and took command under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. The daughter of Klein's Country Day set fractions of :22.06 and :44.63 ahead of Moonlight Romance, Miss Imperial, and Sue's Fortune.
Moonlight Romance did not continue with Break Even as the small field turned into the stretch, but Sue's Fortune began making up ground and was the only threat for the pacesetter. Bridgmohan shook the reins and 1-5 favorite Break Even responded, finding enough to hold off Sue's Fortune by three-quarters of a length.
The final time was 1:09.20 on a fast track.
"I was just a passenger," Bridgmahon said. "I kept her in the clear, kept her out of trouble, and stayed out of her way."
Miss Imperial was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third, with Moonlight Romance the last to cross the wire.
Richard and Bert Klein bred Break Even in Kentucky out of the Saint Ballado mare Exotic Wager. The filly is a half sister to At Bat and stakes-placed Hey Bro. The two set track records at 4 1/2 furlongs and 7 1/2 furlongs, respectively. Exotic Wager last foaled a full brother to Break Even in 2018 named Past Post.
The Jersey Girl improved Break Even's earnings to $369,900.