Averly Jane delivers as favorite in Kentucky Juvenile Stakes
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Averly Jane, bred and raised by college students, has proven a quick study herself. A debut winner less than two weeks ago at Keeneland, she won the first North American stakes race of the year for 2-year-olds with a professional score in the $150,000 Kentucky Juvenile on Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Averly Jane, by Midshipman, was bred by the University of Kentucky's equine program at its Maine Chance Farm outside Lexington, where students manage and foal out the broodmares and raise and sale-prep the young stock. The filly was part of the students' consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale last October and is now trained by Wesley Ward for Hat Creek Racing. She won her debut by 8 3/4 lengths on April 15 at Keeneland, making her the favorite for the Kentucky Juvenile.
Averly Jane ($3) was away well at the start of Thursday's race. She wound up tracking the pace as fellow Keeneland debut winner Bohemian Frost, from the outside post in the field of seven, was away like a rocket and cleared the field through an opening quarter in 21.84 seconds on the track, which was sloppy and sealed after a storm blew through the area about an hour earlier and delayed the back end of the card.
Tyler Gaffalione settled Averly Jane to the outside of Bohemian Frost, about two lengths behind down the backstretch run. The favorite began to inch up on the leader around the far turn while traveling comfortably.
"She’s a naturally fast filly, most of [Ward's] horses are," Gaffalione said. "She jumped out well, but she just got out-sprinted for the lead. We didn’t want to get into a speed duel. I was able to get to the outside. When my filly hit the lane, she gave me everything she had."
Once the two were straightened away and set down for the final drive, Bohemian Frost dug in stubbornly, but Averly Jane found her measure in the final furlong and kicked clear in the closing yards for a 3 1/4-length victory. She stopped the clock in 58.64 for the five furlongs.
Behind Averly Jane, Vodka N Water overtook Bohemian Frost by a head for second. After the top three, it was 2 3/4 lengths back to Shesgotattitude, followed by American Bound, Baytown Frosty, and Bode by You.