November 27, 2005
Godolphin Stable's Stellar Jayne used all of the stretch and all of Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey's skills to run down front-running Bohemian Lady and end her racing career by winning the 66th running of the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (G2) by a 1/2-length. Heavily favored in the one-turn mile event for fillies and mares, Stellar Jayne was kept wide and clear early, as Bohemian Lady broke from the rail under Jose Santos to set a strong pace of 22.61 and 45.01, with A Song in a Minor and Ender's Sister in between.
At the 1/2-mile pole, Stellar Jayne made her attack on the leader. Still, Bohemian Lady held the lead, but started roaming. It seemed, at one point, that just when it looked like Stellar Jayne would make a move, Bohemian lady would wander in her path. Bailey, however, kept active on his mount, held a straight course and finally got the run he was looking for as she kicked away to win in 1:35.94. The victory was worth $3.40 to the $2 win players among the 3,205 in attendance.
Results Chart from DRF
It was the ninth win in 22 starts for the 4-year-old Wild Rush filly, who carried top weight of 123 pounds. She conceded from 10 to seven pounds to her Top Flight rivals. The $90,000 winner's purse pushed Stellar Jayne's career earnings to more than $1.5 million. Stellar Jayne, whose resume includes Grade 1 victories in the Mother Goose , Gazelle and Ruffian at Belmont Park, will be retired to broodmare duties at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.
"We knew with the 7 (Ender's Sister) drawing outside of us, we would probably let her go," said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor "I really thought Ender's Sister might soften up Bohemian Lady a little more. Bohemian Lady hung in really well. Jerry (Bailey) was going to the stick at the three-sixteenths pole, so I knew it was going to be a tough race. I knew from about the eighth pole that she was going to grind Bohemian Lady down. Still, you like to see a 3-5 shot win a little easier than that. This was a nice way to go out. She leaves for Jonabell on Sunday."
It was the second winner of the day for Bailey, who earlier won the second race with Spin Factor the give trainer Todd Pletcher the North American single-season earnings record. "I figured if they outran me by any substantial margin, they were going too fast," Bailey said. "She didn't really feel comfortable in between horses, so opted to get her out. I really didn't think Bohemian Lady wanted to go that far off those early splits. I figured that if everybody ran according to form, I would get there."
Seeking the Ante was four lengths back in third, with Cloakof Vagueness, A Song in A Minor, Ender's Sister, Last Song and Areek trailing.
On to the Remsen Stakes
On to the Demoiselle Stakes
Back to the Cigar Mile
