Juddmonte Farms' founder Prince Khalid bin Abdullah died in January, but his stable's legacy of breeding and racing success endures.
Juddmonte homebred Juliet Foxtrot was right at home over yielding ground on a rainy day at Keeneland April 10, and led throughout in the $300,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) under Tyler Gaffalione. The 6-year-old daughter of Dansili picked up her first grade 1 win after four prior stakes placings in top-tier stakes.
Her score also resulted in a fourth victory in the race for Juddmonte, whose previous triumphs came with Tates Creek in 2002 and Intercontinental in 2004 and 2005
Saturday's triumph marked the 16th graded stakes victory at Keeneland for Juddmonte. In honor of the historic milestone, Juddmonte receives a commemorative pitcher as part of Keeneland's signature Milestone Trophy Program. Juddmonte becomes the fourth owner to win a pitcher.
"It's taken a lot of effort over the years and a tremendous amount of commitment from Prince Khalid and now his family and sons," said Juddmonte general manager Garrett O'Rourke. "It's a great tribute for the effort and planning and perseverance of the whole operation. And it's been a fun ride."
Favored at 8-5, Juliet Foxtrot had everything her way in the Jenny Wiley. The lone speed, she went quickly to the lead with an opening quarter-mile in :24.35 before slowing the pace further down the backstretch with a half-mile in :49.45.
At that point, sensing no pressure up on the leader, jockey Umberto Rispoli sent Maxim Rate forward, advancing from fifth into second, but Gaffalione merely led out a notch on Juliet Foxtrot and the veteran mare quickened. She was a length and a half in front after six furlongs in 1:13.72 and maintained a clear advantage over the rest of the 1 1/16-mile race. The Brad Cox trainee hit the wire two lengths in front, timed in 1:44.51 for the distance.
"She really relished the ground. They said that they worked her a couple weeks back over a turf course similar to this and they said she just ate it up," said Gaffalione. "As soon as she broke, I could feel that I had a ton of horse and she was loving every bit of it. I just put my hands down when she broke and she came right back to me. It was an easy ride today."
Pace-tracking Tamahere finished second, a neck in front of a rallying La Signare in third. Etoile was fourth—giving European-breds a sweep of the top four positions. American-breds Maxim Rate and Micheline completed the order of finish in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Tamahere and Etoile are trained by Chad Brown, a four-time Jenny Wiley winner. Both fought but couldn't catch the winner. Tamahere came closest.
“She was sitting in a good spot and when the horse in front opened up entering the far turn, we ended up being second best,” said her rider, Irad Ortiz Jr.
The Jenny Wiley was the third graded score for Juliet Foxtrot following wins in the 2019 Modesty Handicap (G3T) and 2020 Gallorette Stakes (G3T). During those seasons, she also competed at the highest stakes level, finishing second in the First Lady stakes Presented by UK HealthCare (G1T) and Matriarch Stakes (G1T) in 2019, and running third in last year's Jenny Wiley and Matriarch.
"It was brave on behalf of everybody at Juddmonte to make the move to keep her (in training) for one more year to try to win that elusive grade 1," O'Rourke said. "This is huge for the mare. She looked absolutely magnificent today, and for as consistent of a performer as she's been, I just think she thoroughly deserves it, which makes it all the more sweet for us."
Bred in Great Britain, Juliet Foxtrot is one of three black-type runners out of the stakes-winning King's Best mare Kilo Alpha. The other two are Alpha Bravo (Oasis Dream) and Bravo Sierra (Siyouni).
Juliet Foxtrot's second dam, Anasazi (IRE), is a half sister to Juddmonte stars Dancing Brave and Jolypha.
Saturday's victory pushed Juliet Foxtrot's record to 6-2-3 in 20 starts, and the $180,000 first prize increased her earnings to $701,831.
The Jenny Wiley was the most prestigious of four stakes at Keeneland on the afternoon and the richest, ahead of the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3). The latter race, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, was won King Fury, a Curlin colt owned by Fern Creek Stables and Three Chimneys Farm.
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