2018 Eclipse Awards: Jaywalk

Jaywalk was a very nice filly out of the box. She finished second in her June debut at Monmouth Park after setting the early pace, came back to record a front-running romp in her second start, which came in the mud at Parx Racing in July, and then became the first stakes winner for her freshman sire Cross Traffic when she landed the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park in August, showing an added dimension by coming from off the pace.

Nice filly, for sure.

But the gap between nice filly and favorite for the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old filly is enormous. Few have what it takes to bridge such a gap. But Jaywalk has it, and has it in spades. She successfully made this giant leap with overwhelming victories in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park in October, and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs in November.

In the mind of trainer John Servis, who trains Jaywalk for Chuck Zacney’s Cash is King Stable and Leonard Green’s D.J. Stable, the opportunity to go a distance of ground was a key factor in his filly’s ascendency.

:: 2018 Eclipse Finalists: Profiles and photos for all categories

“There were a couple of nice fillies in there that had run better numbers,” Servis told Daily Racing Form after Jaywalk ran away with the Frizette. “You don’t know how far they’re going to go, and if they can sit on a hot pace like that and keep on going.

“I thought this filly would run all day.”

Actually, Jaywalk ran out of her mind in the Frizette, laying down very fast early fractions of 22.63 seconds and 45.65. Yet despite those early exertions, she drew off like a fresh horse through the stretch to score by almost six lengths in a fine 1:34.57 for the one mile.

The Juvenile Fillies was Jaywalk’s first attempt around two turns, and her performance was a virtual carbon copy of her Frizette. Again, Jaywalk went right to the front and set a strong pace of 23.23 and 46.76, which was slightly faster than the pace males posted in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile two races later. Jaywalk again left her opposition reeling in the stretch, drawing off to a thoroughly decisive 5 1/2-length score over the most accomplished main-track performers in her division. Moreover, Jaywalk covered the 1 1/16 miles in an excellent 1:43.62, which was faster than what heavily favored Game Winner required to win the Juvenile.

“It was awful impressive,” Servis told Daily Racing Form the next day. “She’s got such a fast cruising speed. She’ll rate. She’ll do whatever you want her to do. Once she got in front, she just pricked her ears and relaxed.”

Jaywalk, out of the Orientate mare Lady Pewitt, was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and was purchased for $190,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale.