Her maiden-breaking score, a five-length romp at Ellis Park July 22, was enough to secure 5-2 favoritism for Justa Warrior Sunday afternoon in her jump up to stakes company. With an extra furlong-and-a-half to work with, she settled three wide behind the pace of Mor Lively (Mor Spirit) through fractions of :22.39 and :45.71. Fanned five wide at the top of the stretch, Justa Warrior assumed command and took over, holding off a charging Pachuca (Ghostzapper) in the final sixteenth to lead by a length on the wire.
Her family is a who's who list of 'TDN Rising Stars' that includes her dam, GISW and $1.25 million 2011 Fasig-Tipton November purchase A Z Warrior (Bernardini), and a trio of her dam's half-sisters (GISP Jojo Warrior {Pioneerof the Nile}, GSP J Z Warrior {Harlan's Holiday}, and GISP E Z Warrior {Exploit}). A Z Warrior has since produced a full-brother to today's winner, as well as a weanling colt by Uncle Mo. She was bred back to Curlin for a 2023 foal. Justa Warrior is the third black-type winner for freshman Coolmore stallion Justify (by Scat Daddy). Click for the Equibase.com chart.
RUNHAPPY ELLIS PARK DEBUTANTE S., $122,500, Ellis, 8-14, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:25.89, ft.
1–JUSTA WARRIOR, 120, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: A Z Warrior (GISW, $286,906), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Carson Jen, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Calamitous Jen, by Deputy Minister
($150,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN.
O-Stone Bridge Farm; B-Triemore Stud (KY); T-John Alexander
Ortiz; J-Reylu Gutierrez. $72,660. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$108,660. *1/2 to Cole Porter (IRE) (Galileo (IRE)), SP-Sin,
$215,874.
2–Pachuca, 120, f, 2, Ghostzapper–Goodbye Kid, by
Lemon Drop Kid. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-St. George Stables, LLC
(KY); T-Fausto Gutierrez. $23,600.
3–Tap'er Light, 120, f, 2, Mineshaft–Ellewinkle, by Eltish.
($45,000 Ylg '21 OBSWIN; $90,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Keith Johnston and Philip DiCosmo;
B-Carol A. Reitman, Susan Gannon & Warren Miller (FL);
T-Bobby S. Dibona. $9,300.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 3. Odds: 2.51, 9.46, 23.90.
Also Ran: Mor Lively, Shoplifter, Holiday Decision, Crackalacking, Kiss Me On Oconee, C C Cruise Control, Chiquita Mosca, Zapple, Empire of My Own. Scratched: Karma Ghia, Naughty Lottie, Outofnothingatall, Pachanga Loca.
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