Rallying from well of the pace, favorite Just One Time ran down front-runner Bell's the One and captured the $500,000 Madison Stakes (G1) by three-quarters of a length Saturday at Keeneland.
Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Brad Cox, Just One Time finished the seven furlongs for older fillies and mares in 1:22.79 on muddy track as the 3-2 favorite, earning her first win at the highest level.
Bell's the One held on for second, three lengths to the good of Kimari.
Kimari pressed early pacesetter Lady Rocket through quick early fractions of :22.11 and 44.50 for a half mile, but as the front-runners began to tire, Bell's the One uncoiled a determined rally down the center of the track. She could not hold back Just One Time, who came with stronger bid from next to last in the nine of field to get the win.
“I was hoping to get a good break and get myself into the race. Unfortunately, she broke a bit flat-footed so we went to Plan B and she ran really well in the stretch,” Prat said of Just One Time.
Despite the filly's start, Cox said everything worked out.
“Obviously, there was a hot pace up front but it's not ideal; we'd like to break and be a little more involved. That's how she was before she came to us. We put a starting gate blanket on her today, and honestly it didn't help her a whole lot getting away from there.
“I think she's versatile. She's obviously shown she can win up close and sit off of it. She's honest. I think that's the biggest thing with her. Makes her versatile.”
A 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Not This Time, Just One Time tallied a fourth straight triumph and returned $2. She came in off her first graded score in the Inside Information Stakes (G2) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park. Her overall record improves to six wins from seven career starts.
Corey Lanerie, rider of runner-up Bell's the One, said he thought he had the race won.
“Inside the eighth pole, I could feel 4 (Just One Time) was coming. (Bell's the One) got a little tired coming off the five-month layoff. I didn't want to get too far back, and I was pretty far back, so I kind of let her creep. In hindsight, maybe I let her creep a little too early. At the time, it was a split-second decision. I'm just glad she showed that she's back.”
Just One Time is campaigned by breeder Warrior's Reward LLC and Commonwealth New Era Racing. Her dam is the Speightstown mare Ida Clark.
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