Bargain buy Jakarta has the speed to lead Barbara Fritchie

Jakarta looks like the one to catch and beat Saturday in Laurel Park’s Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

Purchased by Three Diamonds Farm for $35,000 at public auction at the end of 2019, Jakarta has earned $357,367 and enters the Fritchie following a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.

Jakarta turned for home with the lead in the Inside Information only to be run down by favored Just One Time, a filly that Jakarta’s trainer, Michael Trombetta, describes as “a pretty nice horse.”

Jakarta’s game is speed, and she will be forwardly placed. “That’s how she likes to run,” Trombetta added.

Glass Ceiling was claimed for $40,000 last spring and has blossomed into a stakes winner for trainer Charlton Baker.

“She always seemed like she was consistent,” Baker said about the decision to claim the daughter of Constitution. “She looked like a hard-knocker.”

Glass Ceiling was a nervous filly and Baker noted she has matured greatly over the last few months.

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Glass Ceiling broke through winning the Garland of Roses at Aqueduct on Dec. 11. She followed it up by capturing a third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming option on Jan. 23 at Aqueduct.

“I think seven-eighths is her best distance and she had a great trip,” Baker said about the latter race. “She was on the bit and wanted to run them over.”

Belle of the North, a daughter of Street Boss out of a half-sister to Zenyatta, finished fourth in the Carousel Stakes at Laurel around two turns on Dec. 26, but reverts to the distance of her rallying victory in the Safely Kept on Nov. 27.

Trainer Jose Corrales admits this is a tough race from a pace and class standpoint, but believes the seven-eighths is “perfect” for her. “I tried to stretch her out to 1 1/8 miles, and she got kind of confused.”

Bold Confection ships in from Parx for trainer John Servis and might be closest to Jakarta early. A winner in three of her past four races, Bold Confection steps up in class.

“She had ankle surgery and some time off before I got her,” Servis said. “Her rider said her last work was her best one yet.”

Although all Bold Confection’s wins came at six furlongs, Servis believes her best race could come at a one-turn mile and is excited about trying her seven panels.

Kaylasaurus will be the first graded runner for co-owners Bush Racing Stable and Liberty House Racing. Claimed for $25,000 on Nov. 30, Kaylasaurus paid dividends winning the Willa On the Move at Laurel on Dec. 26. She then finished second in the What a Summer here on Jan. 29.

“This is the kind of stuff you dream of,” said David Bushey, stable manager for Bush Racing. “When you’re a claiming stable like us, most of the time it’s just dreams.”

Kaylasaurus is a late runner, and Bushey looks forward to the added distance.

Fille d’Esprit, Regal Retort, and Prodigy Doll also are entered.