Luis Saez seized the advantage with Jouster right from the start of Saturday's Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland, and the 3-year-old Noble Mission filly never looked back, winning the one-mile turf race at the Lexington, Ky., track easily by 1 1/2 lengths for Starlight Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher.
Setting easy fractions of :24.82, :49.87, 1:14.29 and 1:25.39 on a course rated good, Jouster completed the distance in 1:36.83 and paid $5.40 as the 8-5 favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies.
Gift List finished second, with Plum Ali a half length back in third and Saranya fourth.
Bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables, Jouster was a $360,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase by Starlight from the Lane's End consignment.
Out of the Street Cry mare, Playtime, Jouster was winless in two dirt starts at two, but is a nose shy of being unbeaten in four races on this grass this year. She broke her maiden by 8 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park Jan. 10, then won an allowance race at the South Florida track by 1 3/4 lengths on Feb. 7. Jouster was beaten a nose by Domaine Expertise in the G3 Florida Oaks in her most recent start at Tampa Bay Downs on March 6. She trained up to the Appalachian at Pletcher's Florida headquarters at Palm Beach Downs.
Post-race quotes:
Luis Saez (winning rider of Jouster)
“She was so professional today, she broke from there so sharp. We just tried to relax and she did it so perfect. She came into the stretch and I had so much horse so I was just letting her be happy and we came to the end she just took off. She's good.”
Jack Wolf (managing partner of winning owner Starlight Racing)
“These last few days on this turf, the speed hasn't been holding which is what I was concerned about. Luis said before the race that he was going to try to get her to relax. The fractions you saw were perfect.”
Brian Lynch (trainer of runner-up Gift List [GB], who was making her North American debut)
“When I looked up at the half-mile pole and saw :49, I knew we were in trouble. She ran a really great race and now we are Grade 2-placed.”
Joel Rosario (rider of third-place finisher Plum Ali)
“That horse (the winner) took the lead easily and it was hard to catch her after that. But (Plum Ali) put in a nice run. I'm happy with my filly. She was running nice in the end, but just with the way the pace went it made it difficult.”
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