Ageless looks to defend title in The Very One

BALTIMORE – Late bloomers Ageless and Joya Real, who both had their best seasons last year at age 5, are among the top contenders Saturday in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares that drew a field of 11.

Ageless, who won this race in 2014, improved markedly for trainer Arnaud Delacour last year when he removed her blinkers and taught her to relax early in her races. He also switched her to the grass.

Ageless went on to win turf sprint stakes at Keeneland, Pimlico, and Woodbine. In what may have been her best race of the season, Ageless bid for the lead in midstretch of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a 6 1/2-furlong downhill race at Santa Anita, but was outfinished in deep stretch and finished fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length.

“Arnaud really developed her,” said Gretchen Jackson, who with husband Roy races as Lael Stables.

Ageless finished second in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland over yielding grass in her 6-year-old debut despite racing wide. The winner, Katie’s Joy, returned to win the Unbridled Sidney at Churchill and now has won four straight races.

Joya Real turned a corner last year when Parx-based trainer Kathleen Demasi raced her in three consecutive turf races to end the season. She won an allowance at Parx and the Fort Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth and finished a flying second along the rail in the $200,000 Turf Amazon at Parx, just missing that one by a head.

“She didn’t get away from the gate in the Turf Amazon,” Demasi said. “There was a long delay at the gate when the winner didn’t want to come onto the turf course. They were in the gate a long time, and she left there flatfooted.”

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Demasi freshened Joya Real over the winter and has worked her twice for this start.

“I’m a little behind the eight ball with her because of the bad winter,” Demasi said. “Another two weeks would be better, but she’s been coming on the last two weeks, and I do think she’ll run well.”

Expect Joya Real to rally from far back.

Key contenders

Ageless (Last 3 Beyers: 88-96-89)

* She has worked three times at Fair Hill since her 2014 Keeneland debut.

Joya Real (Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-86)

* Demasi has won this race twice before – with Go Go Baby Go in 2004 and Merry Princess in 2002.

Shrinking Violet (Last 3 Beyers: 95-85-85)

* She started her career for owner and trainer Wesley Ward in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race, and in her last race, she won the Grade 2 Monrovia down the hill at Santa Anita.

* She has good tactical speed and might be able to get the jump on Ageless and Joya Real.