Reprinted from Bloodhorse
Rainha Da Bateria displayed a dazzling turn of foot through the homestretch to win the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT) handily over the Keeneland turf Oct. 8, becoming the final qualifier from the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series (VIDEO).
Three Chimneys Farms’ 2-year-old daughter of Broken Vow , trained by Graham Motion, rallied from last at the top of the stretch at odds of 3-1 to score by 1 1/2 lengths over Quality Rocks while hand-ridden to the wire by Joel Rosario. Fila Primera, the 9-5 favorite in the field of eight juvenile fillies, finished third.
The final time for the 1 1/16-mile test over a good course was 1:43.85.
The victory provides the connections of Rainha Da Bateria with an automatic berth in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, in the 71st and last “Win & You’re In” race of the season.
“I hope we’re going (to the Breeders’ Cup); we plan to, anyway,” said Dr. Stephen Jackson, director of Three Chimneys Farm. “She ran huge and Graham had her teed up and ready to go. We always thought she was a nice filly, so hopefully we’ll be in California in about three weeks.”
Bred in Kentucky by Alexander Groves Matz out of the stakes-winning Dixieland Band mare Amelia, Rainha Da Bateria cost $435,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale when purchased by Three Chimneys partner Borges Torrealba Holdings out of the Gainesway consignment. She is a half sister to 2012 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up He’s Had Enough, as well as to graded stakes turf winners Assateague and Kindergarden Kid.
A first-out maiden winner sprinting on the turf at Saratoga Race Course in July, Rainha Da Bateria was fourth in her most recent try Aug. 27 in Saratoga’s P. G. Johnson Stakes, finishing 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Partisan Politics.
Pacesetter Cool Comfort ensured a lively pace in the Jessamine, dashing out to a 7 1/2-length advantage for Rafael Hernandez through the opening half mile while clipping off fractions of :22.41 and :46.94. The pace was too much to maintain as the field, led by Quality Rocks and jockey Jose Lezcano, closed in rounding the turn for home. Rainha Da Bateria, breaking from the far outside post, dropped to the back of the pack early and that is where she remained as Cool Comfort was clinging to a one-length advantage after getting six furlongs in 1:13.48.
Quality Rocks, angled slightly off the rail as she made her bid, took over in the stretch and lead by 1 1/2 lengths at the furlong marker as Rainha Da Bateria made a bold move while six paths wide through the lane. Rainha Da Bateria soon swept past the leader and was clearly best in the final stages under smooth handling by Rosario.
“It was a good trip, perfect trip,” Rosario said. “I looked up front and thought they were going quick, but she has a good turn of foot. Turning for home, she just picked off horses, one by one. She finished good.”
Quality Rocks was 3 1/4 lengths in front of Fila Primera, who had a good stalking trip for Javier Castellano but flattened out in the drive. Cool Comfort was fourth, followed by Walking the Kitten, Late Spring, Magnificent Margo, and True to You.
Rainha Da Bateria earned $90,000 for the victory to increase her overall bankroll to $144,800.
Under equal weights of 118 pounds, Rainha Da Bateria paid $8.20, $3.40, and $3 as the second choice, topping a $38.60 exacta. Quality Rocks, making her turf debut after a solid win in the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes at Arlington Sept. 6, returned $4.60 and $3. Fila Primera was favored off an impressive first-out maiden win going a mile on the Belmont Park turf Sept. 7 for trainer Chad Brown, and paid $2.60 to show.
West Coast Belle scratched.