Jody's Pride (f, 3, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) opened her 2024 with style here as she outgamed Carmelina (Maximus Mischief) to claim her first stakes win of the season in the Busher S.
A dirt horse by accident after her maiden turf dash debut Aug. 9 at Saratoga was brought off the grass and she dominated by 10 1/2 lengths, it was a similar story for the Matron S. in her second start Oct. 8 when that six-panel sprint also came off the turf and again sending Jody's Pride to the winner's enclosure. Intentionally entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies going long on the main track at Santa Anita Park, she continued her improvement to come a neck short of catching champion MGISW Just F Y I (Justify) at 17-1 odds.
Returning at a one-turn mile, and greeting a rainy New York day, the 4-5 favorite stalked Carmelina as she rolled through :23.62 and :46.81 early splits. Making a bid entering the bend, Jody's Pride had come on even terms with that leader from the six path as they swung into the upper stretch. The fillies locked horns to the final sixteenth before the eventual winner finally managed to move clear by 2 1/4 lengths. Gin Gin (Hightail) came on from the back to close the trifecta. With the score here, Jody's Pride secured 50 Kentucky Oaks points in addition to the 15 she earned from the runner-up effort at the Breeders' Cup.
JODY'S PRIDE fought with Carmelina down the lane and came away with 50 Points to the KY Oaks with her win in the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct! The American Pharoah (@coolmoreamerica) filly was trained by Jorge Abreu and ridden by Jose Lezcano!
Late Pick 3: https://t.co/mGeXnEqN9C pic.twitter.com/GSWOOawXK3
— TVG (@TVG) March 2, 2024
“We gave her 30 days [after the Breeders' Cup] and then we brought her back to Palm Meadows; she was doing everything great,” said trainer Jorge Abreu. “She was working pretty good and we had her pointed for the Davonna Dale, and at the last minute, [co-owner] Mr. Weston decided to run her over here. So I said, 'OK, let's go.'”
When asked whether his stable star might next be seen in the GIII Gazelle S., a 100-point qualifier to the Kentucky Oaks Apr. 6, Abreu said, “I'm going to see how she comes out of it and probably [come back] here in the Gazelle, and then the Kentucky Oaks. She ran two turns already and my concern was if she was going to perform as well as she did as a 2-year-old. She did, and I think she wants to go longer than that even.”
Co-owner Steve Weston of Parkland Thoroughbreds, too, is looking ahead to Kentucky. “We made it [to the Kentucky Oaks] once before with Venti Valentine and we actually won this race for the third time today. We won it twice with Final Furlong, with Venti Valentine and Espesso Shot. I'm not saying we have the best horse for the Oaks of the 14, but at least we have a chance.”
The second foal for Jody's Song, a half-sister to MSW & GISP Make Mischief (Into Mischief), Jody's Pride is the most accomplished for her dam. She has a 2-year-old full-brother Moreperfectunion as well as a yearling full-brother already named Jody's Legacy. The mare is due to Epicenter for 2024. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
BUSHER S., $200,000, Aqueduct, 3-2, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:38.49, sy.
1–JODY'S PRIDE, 120, f, 3, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Speightful Lady, by Speightstown
3rd Dam: England's Rose, by Nureyev
O-Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (KY); T-Jorge R. Abreu; J-Jose Lezcano. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 4-3-1-0, $590,250.
2–Carmelina, 120, f, 3, Maximus Mischief–Complete St., by St Averil. ($44,000 Wlg '21 FTIDEC). O-Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC; B-Lillith E. Boucher (PA); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr.. $40,000.
3–Gin Gin, 120, f, 3, Hightail–Before You Know It, by Hard Spun. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $24,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.95, 8.80, 3.20.
Also Ran: Aoife's Magic, Regulatory Risk, Sicilian Princess, Princess Mayfair.
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#4 WEST SUNSET ($17.12) went to the front shortly after the break and poured it on down the lane to win the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill in style!