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Racing

Juliet Foxtrot (GB) "proud of herself" following Coolmore Jenny Wiley Victory

April 11, 2021

 

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Juliet Foxtrot (GB) is “walking around here feeling pretty proud of herself,” reported Tessa Bisha, assistant to trainer Brad Cox, on Sunday morning.

Juliet Foxtrot posted a front-running, 2-length victory in Saturday’s Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) to claim the first Grade 1 triumph of her career and record Juddmonte’s 16th graded stakes win here.

For the accomplishment, Juddmonte received a Keeneland Pitcher – part of the track’s signature Milestone Trophy Program. Only three other owners have earned the Keeneland Pitcher: Claiborne Farm (Fall 1968), Bwamazon Farm (Spring 1983) and William S. Farish (Spring 2003).

Saturday’s victory came over a yielding turf course and marked Juliet Foxtrot’s second graded stakes victory under such conditions.

“With the rain yesterday, the only concern I had was she might get tired,” Bisha said. “But some horses just really like soft turf. It was two years ago here and they let us breeze over the soft turf and she worked with (Juddmonte Group 3 winner) Gaining (GB), who had Flo (Florent Geroux) on her and Juliet Foxtrot just pulled away from her with a heavier work rider.”

Plans for Juliet Foxtrot’s next start are undecided for now, according to Bisha, who handled saddling duties Saturday while Cox was at Oaklawn Park to saddle Caddo River to a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Plans are also indefinite for trainer Chad Brown’s duo of runner-up Tamahere (FR) and fourth-place finisher Etoile (FR). Baldo Hernandez, assistant to Brown, said both horses came out of the race fine as did John Gunther’s Stage Raider, the half-brother to undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify, who won Saturday’s 11th race by 10¾ lengths. Hernandez said Stage Raider would head next to Churchill Downs.

Trainer Brendan Walsh said La Signare (FR), who finished third beaten a neck for second, came out of the Coolmore Jenny Wiley fine but is not under consideration for the $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on May 1. Walsh is eyeing that spot for Grade 3 winner Zofelle (IRE).