Jessamine Stakes Victory for Laragh
On Thursday, 9 October 2008, the last racing event of the Breeder’s Cup Classic Challenge Series that gains the winning horse automatic entry into this prestigious event, was run. The $150 000 JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes was the eighth race on the card at Keeneland Racecourse, and with a twelve horse line-up for the race, it was set to be a spectacular horse racing event. IEAH Stables entered one of their new horses, Laragh, and she did not disappoint. In fact, Laragh upset the whole field by winning the Jessamine Stakes.
Sired by Tapit and out of the mare Rose of Summer (El Prado), Laragh was bred by Mike Ryan in Kentucky. The beautiful two year old filly is trained by John Terranova and won her maiden race on 9 August 2008, and has been performing well ever since. The JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes was a great challenge for Laragh, who faced a tough field of competitors, but the filly did not miss a beat on her way to victory.
Laragh broke from the gates in the seventh post position and immediately took the lead. Ridden by Edgar Prado, Laragh had Glamorous Gal, Maybe Baby and Complicity chasing her down, as she steadily began to widen the gap between them. Even after she was way out in front, on her own, she did not slow down. She relaxed a little when she realized that she was not being challenged, but began turning on the power again at the top of the stretch. Laragh won the Jessamine Stakes comfortably and was followed home in position order, by Habaya, Complicity, Abbot Hall, Phola, War Tigress, It’s Tiffin Time, Lake Cook, Glamorous Gal, Hint of Lemon, Maybe Baby and Never Lie.
The victory in the Jessamine Stakes has given Laragh entry into the $1 million Grey Goose Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which takes place at Santa Anita Park Racecourse. Terranova confirmed that even though the Breeder’s Cup was in the back of their minds, in case she won the Jessamine Stakes, they would only have fifteen days to get her ready. The decision to run her in the Juvenile Fillies Turf will be discussed with the owners, but after her breathtaking performance on Thursday, spectators will be anxious to see how she will run at such a high level.
