Jojo Warrior wins another route in Torrey Pines

DEL MAR, Calif.- Jojo Warrior grew up this summer.

Sunday, Jojo Warrior won her second consecutive graded stakes in the Grade 3, $100,250 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar, a span that coincides with her first two races at a mile or farther.

“She’s been crying out for two turns,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Jojo Warrior ($4) led throughout the Torrey Pines over a mile, holding off a late threat from 9-1 Tiz Kissable to win by three-quarters of a length. Jojo Warrior used similar forward tactics to win the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in June.

Jojo Warrior set fractions of 23.37 and 46.69 seconds through the first half-mile, leading by a length over Fashion Plate, a two-time Grade 1 winner earlier this year. Fashion Plate faded from contention on the turn when Jojo Warrior pulled away to lead by two lengths in early stretch.

Tiz Kissable, third in the Sandy Blue Handicap on turf here on Aug. 15, closed well. She finished a half-length in front of Thegirlinthatsong, who was followed by More Complexity, Fashion Plate, and Margot Machance. Delta Flower was scratched on Sunday morning.

Jojo Warrior was timed in 1:37.10.

“She’s just improving and improving,” Garcia said. “The last time she ran, she just came out of there so fast we just went on with it. This time, I thought there was more speed in the race, but I wasn’t going to fight her. I just let her go and she did it from there.”

Jojo Warrior, by Pioneerof the Nile, races for breeder Ahmed Zayat, who turned 52 on Sunday.

Jojo Warrior has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $260,781. Prior to the Summertime Oaks, Jojo Warrior was second in the Instant Racing Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April, fifth in the Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2 and third in the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 16.

“She’s been impressive in the morning,” Baffert said. “We were waiting for it.”