DeVaux turns attention to Madison with Justique

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Justique, who won the $150,000 Carousel last weekend at Oaklawn, will likely make her next start in the $650,000 Madison at Keeneland, according to her trainer, Cherie DeVaux.

In the Carousel, Justique closed from last for a half-length win. She covered the six furlongs for fillies and mares in a sharp 1:09.96.

“I was really impressed with her,” DeVaux said. “She was one of the few that ran against such a track bias, closed – while spotting the field out of the gate. So I definitely was pleased with that. Our plan was if she ran well in this race to try the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. The timing fits, so that’s where her next start will be, hopefully.”

The Madison, a seven-furlong race for older fillies and mares, is April 5.

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Justique has returned to Fair Grounds.

“She’ll go up to Keeneland in the next few weeks, now that the weather is a bit more stable,” said DeVaux.

Justique, who is a daughter of Justify, notched her second straight win for the barn after moving to the Midwest from Southern California.

“I actually worked with her dam, Grazie Mille, when I worked for Chad [Brown], so it’s kind of a family I’ve been very familiar with,” DeVaux said. “Ever since she’s come into our stable, she’s been straight forward. She’s lovely to train, kind of willing in everything she does. She’s a big, strong filly.”

Justique has a 3-year-old full sister that is scheduled to be trained by DeVaux.

Last weekend at Oaklawn, DeVaux had Skinner, who finished fifth in the Razorback Handicap. She said she is thinking about adding a set of blinkers for his next start.

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