Jakaby Jade, Sweet meet in Friday turf feature
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jakaby Jade and Sweet are a year apart in age but are on similar career paths. Both have won races in promising fashion in recent starts and could be factors in stakes at Del Mar this summer.
Their next objective is an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile on turf in the third race at Santa Anita on Friday. The race drew a field of nine, two of whom are stakes winners – Jakaby Jade in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar last September and Qiaona in two stakes for California-breds in 2013.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sweet, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-60
◗ Sweet, 4, won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf by a nose May 22 in her second start of the year. She disputed the pace throughout and held off a late threat from Grandma’s Hands.
“She showed she was game,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “It looked like a nice filly that she beat.”
◗ Owned by Claiborne Farm, Sweet has won 2 of 7 starts. She beat maidens as a stalker last year but is likely to race near the front on Friday.
“She’s a mare that I think is improving little by little,” Mandella said. “She’s shown us some nice talent. I think she ran well, and she could be something.”
Jakaby Jade, by Royal Applause
Last 2 Beyers: 66-65
◗ Jakaby Jade, 3, beat maidens in England last July and won her American debut in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was sixth as the 9-5 favorite in the Surfer Girl Stakes here last October, emerging from the race with an injury that forced a rest over the winter.
◗ Owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Steven Keh, Jakaby Jade races from off the pace. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 23 is a possibility for Jakaby Jade if she performs well Friday.
“That would be an ideal target,” O’Neill said. “She’s doing really well. We’re eager to get her back to the races.”
Majestic Heat, by Unusual Heat
Last 3 Beyers: 88-82-90
◗ Majestic Heat, trained by Mandella, has not raced since finishing a fast-closing fourth in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf last October. She underwent surgery last fall to have a bone chip removed from an ankle, Mandella said.
◗ In Friday’s race, Majestic Heat will race without blinkers for the first time in her eighth career start.
“She’s working extremely well, and we didn’t put blinkers on her,” Mandella said. “I think she’ll be better off without them.”
Qiaona, by Wilko
Last 3 Beyers: 80-91-88
◗ Qiaona, 6, has career earnings of $633,415, by far the highest in the field. Friday’s race will be her 35th start in a career that includes seven wins.
◗ Trained by Ed Moger Jr., Qiaona is winless in three starts since a victory in an optional claimer on soft turf at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 1. She was third in the Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course in March.