Jazzy takes to dirt with solid victory in Gallant Bloom

ELMONT, N.Y. - Consider the dirt experiment with Jazzy a success.

After a successful career on turf, Jazzy showed she is equally adept on dirt, registering a workmanlike three-quarter-length score over Cuaba in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park. It was a half-length back to Pussycat Doll in third.

Great Intentions and Princess Janie completed the order of finish.

On turf, Jazzy had shown a sensational turn of foot, getting up in the final jump to win the Capades Stakes at Saratoga. In the Gallant Bloom, Jazzy rated just off the pace established by Great Intentions and pressed by Pussycat Doll.

Jazzy, under Garrett Gomez, moved when Pussycat Doll did around the turn, but Jazzy moved past that one inside the eighth pole and held Cuaba at bay to the wire. Jazzy, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred daughter of Mutakkdim, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.71 and returned $7.80 as the third choice.

"That worked out all right," winning trainer Mark Hennig said. "It was good to see her come away from the gate showing that much life. At least I knew she was handling it. My biggest concern was if that last sixteenth or eighth of a mile she'd be spinning her wheels because of the change of surface."

Hennig said that Jazzy, owned by Team Valor, Des Scott, and Robert Muir, could be a candidate for the new $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park on Oct. 26.

Good Night Shirt takes jump stakes

Despite nearly falling over the 10th and final fence, Good Night Shirt held on to win the Grade 1, $168,400 Lonesome Glory Stakes by one length over Orison. It was three lengths back to Preemptive Strike, who set the early pace. Mixed Up, the 2-1 favorite, finished fifth.

Good Night Shirt was making just his third start of the year and first since taking the Grade 1 Iroquois in Nashville by three lengths on May 12. Under William Dowling, Good Night Shirt rated in fourth position in the early stages, launched a three-wide bid around the far turn after the eighth fence, and took overtook Sweet Shani after the ninth fence.

Good Night Shirt did not take the last fence well, but regrouped quickly and held off a late run from Orison. Good Night Shirt, owned by Harold Via Jr. and trained by Jack Fisher, covered the 2 1/2 miles in 4:42.45 and returned $7.80 as the second choice.

"He was fine except for the first and last jumps," Dowling said. "The first jump he jumped too soon because he was running off. The last one was my fault, I wanted to go short to make sure I got over it, and we had a bit of miscommunication."

Good Night Shirt will now be pointed to the $300,000 Grand National Breeders' Cup Steeplechase at Far Hills, N.J., on Oct. 20.