Judy The Beauty misses a Grade 1 victory narrowly in the Prioress Stakes at Saratoga
Trainer Allen Jerkens was immensely pleased with the performance of his runner, Emma’s Encore, when she landed the first Grade 1 victory of her career in the Prioress Stakes at Saratoga on 4th August, 2012, at about six furlongs.
Trainer Wesley Ward, who trains the runner-up, Judy the Beauty, was just as frustrated, since his trainee lost the victory by a slim margin of a nose in the race.
Expressing his annoyance and frustrations, the trainer told the press that:
“It wasn’t a tough beat, it was a horrible beat,” Ward stated. “I’ve been second in Grade 1 races all over the world – Ascot, Dubai. I’m kind of getting used to it.”
The third place was secured by Agave Kiss, who is currently under the training of Rudy Rodriguez.
Wesley Ward is still chasing a Grade 1 win, and is hoping that it will come sooner than later.
The 3-year-old, Judy the Beauty, holds an entry in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on 25th August, 2012, and this race might give her the break she needs.
However, the handler is slightly reluctant to run her again soon as he said:
“The Test comes back a little quick, and I have another one for the race anyway, Gypsy Robin. We’ll just look a little further down the road and try to space her out a lot.”
Maybe it is time that the daughter of Ghostzapper out of mare Holy Blitz, push the limit in those dying stages of the race, and finally bag a Grade 1 for her trainer.
She lost to, Grace Hall, in the seven furlong-Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga in September last year.
In 6 starts, the three-year-old holds an overall record of 3-3-0, a respectable record, but a Grade 1 victory is desperately needed to bolster her career record.
Regarding Agave Kiss’s performance, Rodriguez said that she performed well but has decided to skip the Test Stakes as well. He said:
“We’re going to freshen her up and maybe run her with the New York-breds in the Showcase at Belmont.”
Tags: