Just Katherine well rested for Comely Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Neither of Just Katherine’s first two tries in graded stakes company have gone very well. In April, she was beaten 14 1/4 lengths when finishing last of eight in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. In September, she finished seventh, beaten 19 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Cotillion.

In both cases, her connections believe Just Katherine was hindered by running back too close to her previous start. Saturday, when Just Katherine runs in the Grade 3, $200,000 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct, she will be doing so nine weeks after the Cotillion.

Just Katherine was one of eight 3-year-old fillies entered in the Comely, run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track. However, the race was expected to lose both Corningstone and Warrior’s Ransom, who were cross-entered and expected to run in races at Churchill Downs and Laurel Park, respectively.

When Just Katherine ran in the Cotillion, she was coming back just 19 days after she won a first-level allowance at Saratoga, where she beat Raging Sea, who she faces again here.

“We raced her back way too quick,” said Al Jimenez, son of and assistant to trainer Jose Jimenez. “We just gave her the time.”

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Prior to her allowance victory in August, Just Katherine finished second to Randomized in the Wilton Stakes going a mile at Saratoga. In the Wilton, Just Katherine bobbled at the start, yet still made a determined run at Randomized, who came back to win the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 2 Beldame and finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Trevor McCarthy rides Just Katherine from post 4.

Raging Sea came out of her loss to Just Katherine in that Saratoga allowance to win a first-level allowance at Keeneland in the slop by 3 1/4 lengths, earning a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Chad Brown said that performance was “just what she needed, a nice two-turn race under her belt, and she’s really coming on now.”

Manny Franco rides from the outside post.

While Kenny McPeek will scratch Corningstone from the Comely, he will still run Defining Purpose, winner of the Grade 1 Spinster and the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. She is coming off a runner-up finish behind Xigera in the Grade 2 Mother Goose here Oct. 28. Xigera was entered in Friday’s Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill.

McPeek called the Mother Goose effort “another solid race out of her. That’s her, she’s a professional. She gives her best every time. I think with Xigera gone, this race is a great spot for her.”

Junior Alvarado rides from what figures to be post 5.

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Honor D Lady comes into a the Comely off a win in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks despite a wide trip throughout.

Julia Shining won last year’s Grade 2 Demoiselle here at 1 1/8 miles, but is 0 for 4 this year. Ichiban beat New York-breds in the Fleet Indian at Saratoga and was second to Know It All Audrey in the Empire Distaff last out.

The Comely goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 11:50 a.m.

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