Justique goes last to first in Desi Arnaz Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Justique re-established herself as one of the top prospects in California on Saturday at Del Mar, where she rallied from last and blew away a field a sprinters with a decisive victory in the $101,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes.

Six weeks after finishing a distant third at odds-on in a Grade 2 route at Santa Anita, Justique ($5.00) shortened to one turn Saturday and powered to a 2 1/4-length victory in the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz. The final time was a modest 1:23.41.

The stakes victory was a replica of the July 31 debut by Justique. Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Justify won the Del Mar maiden race rallying from last, then got sick and missed the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante in early September. Her second career start was a flat third in the 1 1/16-mile Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.

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Making her third career start Saturday at Del Mar, Justique reproduced her maiden win. She was last from the gate, which was no worry to jockey Victor Espinoza. “I never tried to encourage her out of the gate, I just let her do her thing,” Espinoza said. “I didn’t want to change anything.”

While front-runners Parody, Naughty Lottie, Smokem for You and Blessed Touch dueled through fractions of :22.04 and :45.05, Justique and Espinoza lagged more than 10 lengths off the pace. She picked up steam into the turn, rallied wide and won clear.

Blessed Touch finished second, 6 1/2 lengths clear of Naughty Lottie. The remaining order of finish was Parody, Huntingcoco, Daddy Classy Dill and Smokem for You.

The significance of the Desi Arnaz Stakes remains uncertain. Justique is not nominated to the Grade 1 Starlet on Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos, where Shirreffs rarely runs. In all likelihood, the next start for Justique will be at Santa Anita. The Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, seven furlongs on Jan. 1, would be perfect.

For now, Shirreffs and owners Lee and Susan Searing have a nice filly on their hands. Shirreffs does not lavish excessive praise, but after Justique scored her second win from three starts, he said, “She’s very talented, and she’s a beautiful filly, too.”

*** Later on Saturday, The Chosen Vron cruised to an impressive victory in the $94,000 Cary Grant Stakes for Cal-bred sprinters. The 4-year-old gelding won the seven-furlong stakes by 3 1/4 lengths in a quick 1:20.66. Hector Berrios rode the winner for trainer Eric Kruljac. Big City Lights finished second; Coalinga Road was third. The win was the third straight stakes victory for The Chosen Vron, who has won 8 of 12.

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