Tommy Jo dominates Spinaway to earn spot in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Showing the same brilliant turn of foot around the final turn and into the stretch as she had winning her maiden five weeks earlier, Tommy Jo earned herself an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after exploding to a convincing 6 1/2-length victory over Percy’s Bar in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.
Tommy Jo came into the Grade 1 Spinaway off an impressive 3 3/4-length victory when launching her career here on July 26, where she raced just off the early leaders before shooting to the lead and opening up a commanding advantage upon settling into the stretch. She used similar tactics to register her second consecutive, one-sided victory in the Spinaway.
With Kendrick Carmouche aboard for the first time, Tommy Jo broke well and rated within easy striking distance of dueling leaders Sina and the previously undefeated, Grade 3 winner Mythical. That pair contesting a lively pace, posting splits of 22.22 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.54 to the half over the fast track.
Tommy Jo rallied three wide to engage the embattled leaders approaching the quarter pole, quickly drew off to a long lead and was never seriously menaced thereafter.
Percy’s Bar, undefeated and un-tested in two previous starts that included an easy victory in the Debutante early this summer at Churchill Downs, raced at the rear of the seven horse field in the run down the backstretch. She made a quick move to get closer into contention on the final turn, came wide for the drive but proved no match for the winner while easily best of the others, finishing 4 3/4 lengths in front of third place finisher Rileytote.
Mythical, who won both the Tremont against males and the Grade 3 Adirondack here earlier this season, offered little resistance when challenged by the winner, weakening steadily down the stretch to finish a well beaten fifth in a field of seven juvenile fillies.
Tommy Jo is a homebred daughter of Into Mischief trained by Todd Pletcher for Spendthrift Farm. She gave Carmouche his third win on the card after completing seven furlongs in 1:23.39 and paying $4.00. She was given an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I think she got away a little cleaner today [than in her previous start] and put herself and Kendrick in a good spot,” said Pletcher. “She’s so push button and runs the turns extremely well. She kind of blew the race open at that point.”
Pletcher said Tommy Jo has shown an abundance of talent right from the start.
“She’s trained like a special one all summer and obviously her first two races give me the impression, the way she trained into this and galloped out in her breezes, that she will go longer. She gives us confidence she’s not just fast but can stretch that speed out as well.”
Pletcher said he will let the dust settle before making a decision on what race he might use as a bridge for Tommy Jo to the BC Juvenile Fillies but added, “I would think the Alcibiades at Keeneland [Oct. 3] could make sense, a two-turn race as a possible prep for the Breeders’ Cup.”
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