Love That Jazz rides speedy start to Ontario County Stakes win

Love That Jazz set a blistering early pace in the $50,000 Ontario County Stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday, then gutted it out through the stretch run to hold off three rivals and score by a length.

The Ontario County Stakes is the local prep for the $150,000 New York Derby on July 23, but the way this race was run suggests that nobody in today's field will benefit from the added distance of that 1 1/16-mile race.

Love That Jazz and jockey Luis Perez moved up soon after the start to take the lead inside 3-5 favorite Championofthenile, set fractions of 21.82 and 44.56 while not being aggressively pressed, then had enough left to hold on despite being chased the length of the stretch.

The five-furlong split was 56.84 and the final time was 1:10.42, meaning Love That Jazz went his final eighth in 13.58. Nobody behind him made up any notable ground.

Saratoga Giro was never far back while racing four wide early. He drifted well out in the track entering the stretch, then continued willingly to best Championofthenile for second by a head.

D'Funnything, the 5-2 second betting choice, was taken to the inside nearing the far turn while not facing too far off the pace and stayed to the rail in the stretch. He finished fourth, a half-length behind Championofthenile.

Love That Jazz paid $11.20 as the third choice. He is 2 for 2 this season since being transferred to trainer Charlton Baker. He won a first-level statebred allowance sprint at Belmont Park on May 19.

Love That Jazz, a son of Not for Love, is now 3 for 8 with earnings of $183,208.