Jeremy's Legacy back on short rest in Jimmy Durante
A week after Jeremy’s Legacy won her U.S. debut in a flashy victory against maidens on turf, she is back on Del Mar’s turf course for Saturday’s $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
The decision to run Jeremy’s Legacy after a short rest was easy, trainer Doug O’Neill said.
“They do it in Europe all the time,” he said. “If they’re doing well, horses have no trouble if they’re in the right spot. There are not a lot of races for her until March. We’ll run her here, and she’ll get a little breather.”
Judging from Jeremy’s Legacy’s win by 5 1/2 lengths at a mile Nov. 21, she has every chance to stay unbeaten in the United States in the Grade 3 Durante, run at a mile.
The race drew a field of 13, and one of the fillies will win her first stakes. Six of the fillies have run in stakes, and three have placed. Mirage was second in the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 10 and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30. One Last Shot was second in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September, while Corps de Ballet was third in the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 1.
KEY CONTENDERS
Jeremy’s Legacy (Last Beyer: 77)
◗ An Irish-bred, Jeremy’s Legacy was sixth and fourth in maiden races in Ireland during the summer before being acquired privately. She races for a partnership that includes the Great Friends Stable.
◗ In her U.S. debut, Jeremy’s Legacy broke slowly from the outside in a field of 11 and rallied wide to take the lead in early stretch.
“The end result was ‘Wow,’ ” O’Neill said. “We were very jazzed with the way she ran from the outside post.”
◗ Rafael Bejarano rode Jeremy’s Legacy in the maiden race but will ride the unbeaten Riri for trainer Phil D’Amato in the Durante. Mario Gutierrez, closely allied with O’Neill, will ride Jeremy’s Legacy.
Mirage (Last 2 Beyers: 76-72)
◗ Mirage did not have an ideal trip in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, racing eight wide in early stretch before finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Catch a Glimpse. Mirage drew the outside post in the Durante.
“She’s a filly that comes from behind, but 13 of 13 is not ideal,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “That’s going to compromise her chances. But she’s training great. Hopefully, we can navigate well from there.”
Corps de Ballet (Last 3 Beyers: 77-84-30)
◗ Trained by Callaghan, Corps de Ballet was beaten two lengths by Stays in Vegas in the Pike Place Dancer at a mile on turf. She starts from post 5 in the Durante.
“She’ll be forwardly placed but not necessarily on the lead,” Callaghan said. “Given her post, I think she’s got a good shot.”
Riri (Last 2 Beyers: 75-71)
◗ A highly promising filly, Riri is unbeaten in two starts, both on turf – a maiden race on the hillside course at Santa Anita on Oct. 11 and an optional claimer at Del Mar on Nov. 6. She has a tactical style and will give Bejarano options for race position in the first half-mile.