Jolene Fury to use her speed again in CTBA Stakes
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The fourth race at Santa Anita on May 31 was over a few strides after the start when Jolene Fury broke sharply, took an early lead and beat six 2-year-old California-bred maiden fillies by 9 1/2 lengths.
The authoritative win did not surprise trainer Jorge Periban, who expects Jolene Fury to have the same sort of trip in her second start in Sunday’s $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for statebred fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar.
“She showed a lot of talent,” Periban said. “She’s got a lot of speed.”
Jolene Fury, who races for Tricar Stable, has the backing of jockey Armando Aguilar, who was aboard for the maiden race win. Aguilar won a maiden race for statebred fillies at five furlongs aboard Strident Miss in a 40-1 surprise on July 17, opening day of this meeting. Aguilar is booked to ride Jolene Fury on Sunday, while Kazushi Kimura rides Strident Miss.
Periban has a score to settle, of sorts, in the CTBA Stakes. Periban won the race in 2021 with At the Spa. Last year, the Periban-trained My Love Caroline finished first at 20-1 in the CTBA Stakes, but was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference, a decision the trainer did not agree with.
Jolene Fury and Strident Miss are two of five entrants in the CTBA Stakes who won maiden races in their last starts, along with Sentient Soon, Stay Bossy, and You Trust Me.
Sentient Soon, who starts from the inside post, led throughout a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on May 8 in her first start, and is expected to be forward early on Sunday.
On Broadway, fifth behind Strident Miss on July 17, starts from the outside post, and may show speed. On Broadway was supplemented to the CTBA Stakes for $1,000 when entries were taken on Wednesday.
The only runner with stakes experience is the well-regarded Free Closer. Trained by Michael McCarthy for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam, Free Closer was fifth of eight after a slow start in the $222,830 Debutante Stakes at six furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 28 in her second start.
Free Closer overcame a slow start to win a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs by a nose at Santa Anita on May 23 as the 7-10 favorite. She may be the beneficiary in the CTBA Stakes if fillies such as Jolene Fury and Sentient Soon set an expected quick pace.
Juan Hernandez, who through Thursday led the standings at the Del Mar summer meeting, rides Free Closer for the first time.
Strident Miss, who races for owner, breeder, and trainer Paula Capestro, is well drawn in post 3 in the field of seven.
Strident Miss closed from fourth in a field of 10 to win by a nose on July. 17. Though owned by Capestro, the filly was based with trainer Luis Mendez at Santa Anita until a few days before the maiden race win.
Mendez breaks yearlings for Capestro and oversees the training of her 2-year-olds before they begin racing, Capestro said.
“He deserves the credit” for the maiden win, Capestro said of Mendez last weekend. “He expected her to run with a lot of confidence.”
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