Judge Joan by a nose in Barretts Debutante

POMONA, Calif. - The maiden filly Judge Joan stepped up in class Saturday at Fairplex Park, where she outlasted runner-up Repo and even-money favorite Well Deserved to win the in a three-way blanket finish.

Aaron Gryder rode Judge Joan ($20.80) to the nose victory over Repo. Well Deserved finished a head back in third in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies who were offered for sale at a Barretts auction.

Jeff Mullins trains Judge Joan, a California-bred daughter of Chief Seattle who finished fourth one month ago in her debut at Del Mar. Like many Mullins-trained maidens, she improved with a race under her belt to win the Barretts Debutante in 1:18.50.

The two-three finishes by Repo and Well Deserved reflect poorly on Mi Sueno, the lukewarm leader of the California 2-year-old filly division. Repo was coming off a two-length defeat (fifth place) behind Mi Sueno in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5. Well Deserved had been freshened following at third-place finish behind Mi Sueno in the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 7.

Kaloula finished fourth. Her jockey David, Flores, lodged a claim of foul against Repo's jockey, Alonso Quinonez, for interference after the start. The stewards disallowed the foul claim.