Mysterious Jule wakes up on the turf

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Mysterious Jule, an easy winner in her first start on turf, heads a field of 10 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's $26,000 Jessie Jones Memorial Handicap at Tampa Bay Downs.

Mysterious Jule, who will carry 122 pounds and be ridden by Ronnie Allen Jr., is one of five last-out winners among the fillies in the 1 1/16-mile overnight turf stakes.

Trained by Lynne Scace, Mysterious Jule won her career debut on dirt against one of the stronger maiden special weight fields here this season, then came back to be an even fifth behind Awesome Chic in the Gasparilla Stakes. Awesome Chic went on to win last weekend's Grade 3 Florida Oaks here.

After a fifth-place finish sprinting against allowance runners, Mysterious Jule was moved to the turf and found the change of footing to be to her liking. She chased the early leader, took over coming into the stretch, then pulled away smartly to win by 8 1/4 lengths at 7-1.

Yippety Yip, a homebred daughter of Broken Vow from the Lord at War mare Fighting Words, makes her 2008 debut on Saturday. Her performance at Churchill Downs last fall, when she rallied from well off the pace to post a two-length victory over a strong field of maidens, makes her a runner to consider. She has been training solidly at Payson Park for trainer Philip Oliver.

Kathleen O'Connell has entered Be My Gal, who took an allowance on the turf here in front-running fashion, and Musical Brew, who was impressive winning her turf debut against maidens last time out.

Rebecca Maker sends Summer Courtship up from south Florida. A daughter of Doneraile Court, Summer Courtship won two starts ago, then dueled throughout a $75,000 claiming route going a mile on turf before falling just a neck short in her first try against winners.