Choisya segued glory in Dubai to the Keeneland winner's circle with a gutsy half-length score in the April 12 $521,657 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T).
The lucrative Jenny Wiley had been on trainer Simon Crisford's radar after his talented pupil strode to two consecutive graded stakes victories at Meydan Racecourse during the winter carnival. In the 5-year-old's most recent win, she defeated Godolphin's top-level filly Cinderella's Dream, winner of the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) stateside last summer and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
Crisford had remarked that the Jenny Wiley, run over a counterclockwise turf course as is the standard for all North American tracks, "should suit her very well."
Apart from facing some of North America's best turf mares in the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley, Choisya would also face Resolute Racing's glittering €1.6 million (approx. US$1,690,785) Arqana Vente d'Elevage purchase, the French graded stakes winner Excellent Truth.
The race, which started smoothly, would end in a whirlwind of controversy.
Wesley Ward-trained Kehoe Beach took up her normal position at the front, leading a spirited chase through fractions of :22.98, :46.95, and 1:11.33. Jockey Luis Saez, returning to the saddle for the second day after being hospitalized from a frightening fall only four days earlier, kept the British-bred Choisya in a tidy stalking trip along the rail.
Midway through the final bend, Kehoe Beach drifted out, leaving a wide-open hole on the inside fence. Without hesitation, Saez and Choisya burst through the seam and struck the front as the field turned for home.
"We knew there was a lot of pace in the race, so the plan was to break clean and go to the rail," Saez said. "I followed the speed and at the top of the stretch I had the rail so I took it. She gave me a good run and a great finish."
While Choisya dueled a stubborn Kehoe Beach to her outside, Flavien Prat and 3-1 favorite Excellent Truth loomed large behind the pair, trying first to pass on the outside but was forced to take back sharply when Saez and Choisya drifted into her path. Diving for the inside, Excellent Truth squeezed her way up the paint but couldn't catch Choisya.
After several minutes of deliberation, Keeneland stewards dismissed Prat's claim of foul and ruled no change to the order of finish.
"I knew when I got to the top of the stretch I came out a little bit, but I don't think I bothered the other horse (Excellent Truth)," Saez said. "I stayed in my lane. She ran a big race and I'm so proud (trainer Simon Crisford and owner Rabbah Bloodstock) gave me the opportunity with this filly to win this grade 1."
Choisya ($15.66), earning her first grade 1 win for owner/breeder Rabbah Bloodstock, was timed in 1:42.01 over a good turf course. By Night of Thunder, she is the second stakes winner out of the Singspiel mare Fragrancy.
Kehoe Beach, making her first start since winning the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) last fall at Churchill Downs, ran gallant in defeat, only a half-length behind Excellent Truth in third.
