Serena's Ghost overcomes eventful trip to win Jessamine

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A stumble at the start and a wayward rival near the finish could not keep Serena’s Ghost from winning the Jessamine Stakes on Friday, opening day of the Keeneland fall meet.

Second-time starter Serena’s Ghost, a Horseshoe Indianapolis debut winner, went nearly to her knees leaving the gate, but jockey Luis Saez still managed to guide her from an outside post over to the rail, settling into the pocket for a perfect drafting trip. Saez found an acre of room to come off the fence in upper stretch and take aim at pacesetting Seneca Park, who shied from a left-handed crop and took a right turn just as Serena’s Song came up behind her. Saez gathered up the reins, steered left to the fence, and Serena’s Ghost, undeterred, pushed on to 1 1/4-length upset win.

“I had my position at the top of the stretch, but the horse on the lead came out and I almost clipped heels,” Saez said. “I went to the rail and she responded form there.”

The Jessamine, a two-turn 1 1/16-mile grass race for 2-year-old fillies, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and Serena’s Ghost has automatic fees-paid entry into the Juvenile Fillies Turf, run over the same distance on the Keeneland course four weeks hence.

Joe Sharp trains Serena’s Ghost, and also trained her sire, Girvin, and her dam, Sirenusa, a Tiznow mare. Sharp praised Serena’s Ghost’s ability to overcome challenging in-race circumstances.

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“That’s encouraging. Obviously, moving forward to the end of the month, there’s going to be a lot of that,” said Sharp, who trains Serena’s Ghost for her breeders, Barry Butzow and Joni Butzow.

Seneca Park, winner of an Ellis Park 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint maiden and the 6 1/2-furlong Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Sprint, set splits of 23.39 and 48.65 over a good course, just failing to see out her first try in a two-turn route race. She finished one length in front of closing longshot Mel Went Home, who had one length on fourth-place Quibbler. Tepid 5-2 favorite Monique En Vol never reached contention and checked in sixth. Her Brad Cox-trained stablemate Lucky Bernadine was a stakes scratch.

Serena’s Ghost was timed in 1:45.57 and paid $47.44 as the third-longest price in an 11-runner field. She bested all 10 of them despite trouble early and late in the Jessamine Stakes.

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