Just F Y I, a homebred for George Krikorian, got Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's Breeders' Cup off to a big start on Friday with a win in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies at odds of 7-1. The 2-year-old daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify stalked odds-on favorite Tamara, the daughter of Beholder, all the way around the Santa Anita oval before taking command at the head of the stretch. Junior Alvarado had measured his mount perfectly, saving enough in the tank to fend off the late charge of 17-1 chance Jody's Pride by a neck on the wire.
“You know I broke from the 12 (post position) and she broke very well,” Alvarado said. “I nudged her a little bit out of there just to get some position and save some ground. She was there every step of the way helping me out. When I asked her, she was was all out there for me.”
It was another half-length back to Candied in third, and 2 3/4 lengths back to Life Talk in fourth.
Favorite Tamara finished seventh under Hall of Famer Mike Smith.
“I had a really good trip,” Smith said. “I got banged away a little from the inside leaving the gate, but, look, that happens all the time. She was able to get over that, but that shouldn't have been something that prevented her from winning.. She went into the far turn, but her energy level just wasn't there today. When I did pull up she did make a little noise. So they're going to scope her to make sure her airways are clear. That's really it.”
Just F Y I completed 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:44.58, paying $16.00 and remaining undefeated through her third career start. With the victory, Just F Y I earned 30 points on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Oaks.
“She broke tremendously,” Mott said. “I was a little worried she was going to get a little too rank, but once she got position, she looked like she was settled down. You had to worry about how fast they were going because the filly (Tamara) Mike (Smith) was on is pretty fast. We got lucky. We had a great trip and she came into the race in great order and she showed us what she could do.”
All eyes were on Tamara, the 4-5 favorite as daughter of three-time Breeders' Cup winner Beholder, at the start of the Juvenile Fillies. Under Mike Smith, the favorite broke inward at the start but rushed up to grab the lead. At the same time, Alvarado was left with room to send Just F Y I from that outside post into stalking position before the clubhouse turn.
Down the backstretch, Alvarado and Just F Y I kept mild pressure on Tamara as the leader rattled off fractions of :22.47 and :46.60. Just F Y I inched closer through the far turn, and ranged up alongside the favorite after six furlongs in 1:10.95.
Just F Y I pulled away as the favorite faded in the lane, but faced danger in a late bid from pace stalkers Jody's Pride and Candied. Jody's Pride was moving best of that pair, but came up a neck short at the wire as Just F Y I pulled off the victory. The full order of finish was as follows: Just F Y I, Jody's Pride, Candied, Life Talk, Scalable, Brightwork, Tamara, Where's My Ring, Chatalas, Accommodate Eva, Esprit Enchante, and Omaha Girl.
Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Just F Y I is out of the stakes-placed Street Cry mare Star Act. Her second dam is Starrer (Dynaformer), a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Krikorian purchased as a yearling in 1999 for $35,000 (Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall sale). Just F Y I won at first asking, then captured the G1 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct to earn her spot in the starting gate for the World Championships. Now three-for-three in her career, Just F Y I boasts earnings of nearly $1.5 million.
“The way he placed that horse today, it was phenomenal just to lay out the lead, and you were able to save her to run down the stretch,” Krikorian said to Alvarado at the post-race press conference. “It was just great. Thank you.”
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