Joy's Rocket outduels rivals and draws off to win Skipat Stakes
BALTIMORE -- The Epicenter team of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosario got their second win on the Preakness undercard on Saturday at Pimlico when Joy's Rocket flashed her speed and led from start to finish in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes for female sprinters.
The victory ended an eight-race losing streak for Joy's Rocket dating to December 2020, which included a second in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.
She finally got back to the winner's circle by outsprinting her seven rivals for the lead and never looking back in the six-furlong race. Joy's Rocket dueled with favored Cilla and Time Limit during the opening quarter in 22.57 seconds and half in 45.06, gained separation from them coming into the lane, and then drew clear for an emphatic 4 1/4-length victory.
Fille d'Esprit rallied late and wide to get second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Time Limit, the 5-2 second choice, who was third. Cinnabunny was fourth, with Cilla, favored at 2-1, fading to fifth.
Joy's Rocket was timed in 1:09.76 on a track baked fast from the 90-degree temperatures.
As the third choice in the field of eight, she returned $9.40.
"Glad to see her get away from the gate so clean," said Asmussen, who said he was proud Joy's Rocket "handled the circumstances."
"Warm circumstances today," Asmussen added, before remarking that earlier this year at Oaklawn she had run in a race when it was snowing.
Joy's Rocket, 4, by Anthony's Cross out of the Special Rate mare Queenie's Pride, has now won five times in 15 starts. This was her fourth stakes victory, following the My Dear at Woodbine, Songbird at Keeneland, and Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds, all as a 2-year-old.
She had raced five times already this year, with three seconds, most recently in an upper-level allowance race at Oaklawn on April 30.
With the $60,000 winner's share on Saturday, Joy's Rocket has now earned $449,474 for her owners, Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds.