Jalen Journey given De Francis win after Wondrwherecraigis disqualification
Jalen Journey won via disqualification in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park after the stewards ruled that first-place finisher Wondrwherecraigis impeded the 6-year-old ridgling during the stretch drive.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Feargal Lynch - the same team that snagged this race in 2018 with Switzerland - Jalen Journey broke well and settled in third as Kalu and Wondrwherecraigis battled through swift fractions of 21.98 and 45.11 over the fast main track.
Favored Wondrwherecraigis, seeking to give trainer Brittany Russell her first career graded stakes victory, traveled smoothly turning for home and made the lead with Jalen Journey gaining momentum to his outside.
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Wondrwherecraigis drifted out under jockey Jevian Toledo, and that forced Lynch to jerk Jalen Journey farther out to the center of the track. Wondrwherecraigis crossed the finish line three-quarters of a length ahead of Jalen Journey after six furlongs in 1:09.52. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Kalu in third. Behind them came War Tocsin, Whiskey and You, and Laki.
After a lengthy stewards' inquiry and jockey objection, Wondrwherecraigis was disqualified and placed second. Jalen Journey paid $4.60 to win as the second choice in the wagering.
"Jevian's horse came across," Lynch said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. "My horse was coming with momentum. Nobody likes to win like that, but he did foul me, and it cost me the race, so he had to come down."
It's been a long and winding trip to the De Francis winner's circle for Jalen Journey, a Florida-bred son of With Distinction. He graduated for a $50,000 maiden claiming tag at Gulfstream in 2019 for trainer Kathleen O'Connell, finished third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar that summer for conditioner Peter Miller and missed over a year of racing before returning under Asmussen's care last fall.
Jalen Journey won two consecutive claiming races before shipping to Meydan for the 2021 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Jalen Journey ran poorly that day, but his form gradually improved when he returned to the United States. He has won three of his last four races with the De Francis his first stakes victory.
The De Francis was one of four stakes on Laurel Park's Saturday program. All were part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series.