Jo Jo Air beats the boys in William Walker Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The grand plans for an overseas trip for the speedy colt named Bulletin may have to be re-evaluated in view of the stunning events that unfolded Saturday night under the Churchill Downs lights.
Jo Jo Air, the only filly in a field of seven 3-year-olds, took an immediate fight to Bulletin, the 1-10 favorite in the featured $125,000 William Walker Stakes, and wound up a 14-1 winner as Bulletin faded in the final furlong to finish fourth.
“She broke really well and I put it right to him,” said John Velazquez, the Hall of Fame jockey who rode Jo Jo Air for trainer Wesley Ward. “I tried to save a little on the turn and she responded really well.”
Jo Jo Air, a daughter of the late Scat Daddy, returned $30.40 after finishing the five-furlong distance in 58.86 seconds over a firm turf. Uncapped rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner and another three-quarters before Legends of War, who nailed Bulletin in the final yards for third.
Bulletin, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, was suffering his first defeat in four career starts. Trainer Todd Pletcher had tentatively planned on using the Walker as a stepping-stone to the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on June 21 at Royal Ascot in Great Britain.
Because much of a show pool of roughly $140,000 had been risked on Bulletin, the $2 show mutuels on the respective top three were $10, $7.40, and $13.
Jo Jo Air, owned by the Andrew Farm and Mrs. Charlie O’Connor, had won one of four prior starts and had not raced since finishing fourth versus fillies in a first-level allowance at Gulfstream Park in early January.
The Walker served as the feature of a 10-race card that opened the 38-day Churchill spring meet.
The $2 exacta (5-4) paid $232.60, the $1 trifecta (5-4-3) returned $610.30, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-4-3-1) was worth $77.40.
There is no racing Sunday at Churchill. Kentucky Derby week begins in earnest with a rare Tuesday card, with racing straight through to Derby Day (May 4).
