Juliet Foxtrot gets perfect trip to end skid in Gallorette

BALTIMORE – Juliet Foxtrot asserted her class when getting a perfect stalking trip under Florent Geroux in the 69th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Gallorette, the second of 12 races on an all-stakes Preakness Day card Saturday at Pimlico.

Always in a smooth rhythm after breaking from post 1 in a field of six fillies and mares, Juliet Foxtrot drew off to an insurmountable lead turning for home in the 1 1/16-mile turf race when holding off a late-running Varenka to snap a six-race losing streak.

Juliet Foxtrot, a 5-year-old Juddmonte Farms homebred, returned $4.20 as the favorite after finishing in 1:49.24 over a course rated yielding.

Trainer Brad Cox, who watched from Keeneland, said afterward that he was somewhat concerned about the course condition. Rain earlier in the week left plenty of give in the ground.

“That was a question mark for me, because she’d shown me previously she might not like it that soft,” Cox said. “But it worked out well. Florent had her where she needed to be, and her class pulled through.”

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Cox said he would consult with Garrett O’Rourke of Juddmonte regarding the next start for Juliet Foxtrot, a British-bred who won her first three starts in America prior to the six straight defeats. Most of those preceding races came against top-flight company, including such divisional stars as Rushing Fall, Uni, and Get Stormy.

“I don’t really know that we’ll look at one of the Breeders’ Cup races,” he said.

Varenka, who trailed most of the way, rallied belatedly when finishing a length behind the winner and another 2 1/4 lengths before No Mo Lady. Rounding out the order were She’sonthewarpath, Storm the Hill, and the longshot early leader Jabuticaba. Not in Jeopardy and Wicked Awesome were early scratches.

The $2 exacta (1-8) paid $15.60, the $1 trifecta (1-8-4) returned $41.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-8-4-3) was worth $7.31.