Imaginationthelady and Nakatomi also punch Breeders’ Cup tickets with victories

Spendthrift Farm’s homebred Tommy Jo was elevated to first place following the disqualification of Percy’s Bar for interference in the stretch to take the 74th running of the $650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies Friday afternoon on opening day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet.

The victory earned Tommy Jo a fees-paid berth into the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Also earning spots in the Breeders’ Cup starting gate were Mark Dobbin’s Imaginationthelady, who took the 35th running of the $400,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales for 2-year-old fillies, and Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitri Hay’s Nakatomi, winner of the 173rd running of the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) for 3-year-olds and up.

In the Darley Alcibiades, Percy’s Bar went right to the front under Luan Machado with Tommy Jo in closest pursuit through fractions of :23.13, :46.90 and 1:11.52. 

Percy’s Bar maintained her advantage into the stretch with John Velazquez closing the gap on Tommy Jo. Leaving the furlong pole, Percy’s Bar swerved to her outside and bumped Tommy Jo, who had drawn on nearly even terms before finishing 2 3/4 lengths back.

There was a jockey’s objection and a stewards’ inquiry that was upheld, reversing the order of finish.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Tommy Jo represented the second Alcibiades winner for both trainer and jockey. Pletcher saddled Candied to victory in 2023 and Velazquez rode Stephanie’s Kitten to victory in 2011.

The time for the mile and a sixteenth on the fast main track was 1:44.69.

Tommy Jo is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Mother Mother. Now 3-for-3, Tommy Jo has earned $617,963.

Tommy Jo returned $2.88, $2.18 and $2.10. Percy’s Bar returned $2.94 and $2.10 with The Grumpy Rabbit, another 2¾ lengths back in third, paying $2.62 to show under Flavien Prat. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Go to Girl with Wonzee Weather and Haute Diva following in order.

Imaginationthelady wins the Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales

Imaginationthelady swept to the front of a tight pack at the sixteenth pole to score a 1-length victory over Infinite Sky to give jockey Frankie Dettori  back-to-back wins in the Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Imaginationthelady completed the mile and a sixteenth on a firm turf course in 1:42.61 and earned a fees-paid berth to the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) on Oct. 31.

Lit Ship led the field of 11 through fractions of :22.43 and :47.70 while Dettori, who won last year’s race on May Day Ready, had Imaginationthelady outside of horses and racing in mid-pack.

Lit Ship carried her lead into the stretch but was soon confronted by a wave of challengers with Imaginationthelady getting the first jump on the late runners.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Imaginationthelady is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Not This Time out of the War Front mare Romanticism. Now 2-for-2 in her career, Imaginationthelady increased her bankroll to $331,400.

Imaginationthelady returned $22.16, $11.08 and $5.46. Infinite Sky, ridden by Luan Machado, returned $17.38 and $7.04 and finished a nose in front of favored Time to Dream, who paid $2.64 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.

It was another neck back to Soloist with Lit Ship, Aggressive Lime, Carolyncaroline, Loveliest, Red Beretta, Mackinac and Victor Help Me following in order.

Nakatomi takes the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix

The third time was the charm for Nakatomi in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix as he overhauled Durante in deep stretch to prevail by a neck.

Runner-up in the race the past two years, Nakatomi earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Nakatomi completed the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.93.

Durante took the lead out of the gate but was quickly overtaken by Skelly, who led the field of six through fractions of :22.19 and :45.08 as Nakatomi raced at the rear of the field. Durante took over at the three-sixteenths pole while Nakatomi was beginning his rally widest of all that propelled him to the front at the wire.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Nakatomi is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Firing Line out of the Flatter mare Applelicious. Now a two-time graded stakes winner, Nakatomi improved his record to 24-7-4-7 and increased his earnings to $1,970,926.

Sent off as the favorite, Nakatomi returned $5.20, $4.16 and $2.92. Durante, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $11.92 and $6.72 and finished 3 lengths in front of Whatchatalkinabout, who paid $4.40 to show under Emisael Jaramillo.

It was another neck back to Here Mi Song with World Record and Skelly following in order.

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Racing continues on Fall Stars Saturday with an 11-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET and featuring five graded stakes, three of them Grade 1s.