Just F Y I cruised into command in early stretch and drew away for a handy win in the $400,000 Frizette (G1), run amidst a steady downpour Saturday afternoon at Belmont at the Big A.
George Krikorian's homebred daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify covered the one-mile contest in 1:37.59 on a sloppy (sealed) track while providing back-to-back Grade 1 wins for her owner, whose War Like Goddess defeated males one race earlier in the Joe Hirsch Turf Championship.
Both winners were ridden by Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott.
“Just F Y I is a horse I bred so that makes it extra-special, too,” Krikorian told Fox Sports after the victory. The filly was produced by the stakes-placed Street Cry mare Star Act, a half-sister to Celebrity Cat, dam of 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up Uncle Benny. Her second dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Starrer, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1winner Stellar Jayne.
Irish Maxima set the early tempo and led by a length, with Emery tracking from second and Just F Y I in third through fractions of :23.63 for the opening quarter mile and :47.69 for the half mile. Irish Maxima threw win the towel near the quarter pole and faded as Just F Y I rallied eagerly, took charge, and coasted to a comfortable win by 3 3/4 lengths.
Central Avenue came on for second, and Life Talk was third. Emery was fourth, followed Irish Maxima and Princess Indy to complete the order of finish.
Just F Y I returned $11.60. She entered the Frizette following her eye-catching, 6 ¼-length debut win going six furlongs on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
The victory provided Just F Y I a “Win and You're In” berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
The Frizette is also the first New York prep race on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and Just F Y I earned 10 qualifying points toward a potential start the prestigious 1 1/8-mile race on May 3.
Frizette Quotes
Bill Mott, winning trainer of Just F Y I [No. 5, $11.60]: “[The track] was the big question and we didn't know. You don't know until you run them. We thought she was a nice filly and, in this day and age, I guess if you break your maiden impressively you're looking at going to a stakes race because there aren't many allowance races.”
On winning two GI races for owner George Krikorian in one day: “It's very special. [Mr. Krikorian] has been a very good client and he sends me some horses that he thinks are going to be OK. I have a small group of horses for him, but they are all quite nice.”
On a start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 at Santa Anita Park: “That would be the plan today. We'll wait and see how she comes back and go from there.”
George Krikorian, winning owner/breeder of Just F Y I (No. 5): “It's pretty special. She had only run once before. Last time, she got to the lead right at the wire in that race. Going a longer distance, we were hopeful that distance was going to be helpful to her, which it turned out to be. With the bad weather and everything, you never know how the horses are going to do. She handled it all well and she handles everything well.”
On why he was confident she would stretch out: “The way she's built and also she has no quit in her. Starrer [her dual Grade 1-winning second dam] also was like that.”
On winning with Just F Y I and War Like goddess in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic: “It's very special. I couldn't be more pleased, I'm ecstatic.”
Junior Alvarado, winning jockey aboard Just F Y I (No. 5): “I was very happy with what I had under me the whole way around. I was just hoping by the time I let her go, she wasn't going to fool me. Right when I asked her, she started picking it up. She had that beautiful long stride. Right when she switched leads, I knew she would be OK turning for home. She finished up nice and strong.
“I rode her at Saratoga and she ran a pretty good race. We always knew that she would be a filly that would appreciate stretching out.”
Javier Castellano, jockey of runner-up Central Avenue (No. 4): “She ran well. I like the way she did it today. She was very professional going inside on the rail. I cut the corner and there was a lot of kickback coming from behind horses. She handled it really well. It was only the second start of her career and the way she handled the kickback was nice. With a little more distance, she'll do well. I was satisfied.”
The post ‘Pretty Special’: Just F Y I Caps Back-To-Back Grade 1 Double For Krikorian In Frizette appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
