Meadowlands: JK First Lady lowers her dam's track record in Three Diamonds

JK First Lady, the royally-bred first foal out of former Horse of the Year JK She'salady, joined her mom as a champion of the Three Diamonds for 2-year-old pacing fillies, winning the $411,000 contest on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The final time was 1:49 2/5, which broke JK She'salady's track record.

Rocknificent (Scott Zeron) cannoned away from post position ten and got to the lead well before the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Hen Party (Tyler Buter) pocketed up, and she was followed by Marloe Hanover (David Miller), favored Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick), and JK First Lady (Yannick Gingras).

Once the dust settled Tetrick moved the public choice to the outside, and Lyons Sentinel took over the lead heading to the 55 3/5 half. Marloe Hanover then made the first-over sacrifice, giving JK First Lady a second-over trip to the half, around the far turn, and over to the 1:23 three-quarters.

Lyons Sentinel was able to resist Marloe Hanover's first-up bid and turned for home first, but in the lane she came under siege both outside and inside from JK First Lady and Rocknificent and gave way. Rocknificent was game on the cones, but JK First Lady had the better momentum on the outside and got up to score by a neck. Lyons Sentinel had to settle for third, followed by Hen Party, and Marloe Hanover.

"I really liked my spot in the first turn actually where I got away," said Gingras. "I figured if David moves to the front first, then I get to follow Timmy, and vice versa. If they both moved to the front, then that would be some good pace to come into, so I was really liking where I was getting away.

"She's really been good all year. She's been knocking at the door, and I'm glad for her and the connections that she finally got the big win."

Nancy Johansson trains JK First Lady, a daughter of Western Ideal, for owner/breeder 3 Brothers Stables. This was JK First Lady's fifth win from 11 attempts, and she has now earned $382,290. The 3-1 second choice, JK First Lady paid $8.20 to win.

"It's very special when you get to train a first foal out of a mare like JK She'salady," remarked Johansson. "She was just a great filly for me. She was the first horse that really put me on the map. It's extra-super special that she got to win a stakes race that her mom finished her 2-year-old career with, too.

"We gave her a little bit of a break after the Breeders Crown. She was really wound up that day, even when I warmed her up she was very rammy. Detention barn up in Canada was actually in the paddock and they raced the night before, so I think it just took too much out of her. She's been a nice filly all year, so I'm happy she got a big win finally."