Wednesday's Best Bet: Diamond Sparkles ready to shine in Jessamine
Wednesday’s 7th race from Keeneland is the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes for 2-year-old fillies traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf course (Post Time - 4:24 p.m. ET).
#9 DIAMOND SPARKLES (6-1) broke slow and showed some late interest in an even effort on yielding ground in the Natalma (G1) Sept. 15, and that race was dominated by the pace players. She will probably get more pace to chase this time.
#4 Indochine (5-1) seems like the type to improve as distances increase. Chad Brown’s $470k purchase was up for 3rd in her 5.5f bow on turf Aug. 9, and stalked the pace and edged clear late in a one mile maiden turf race at Belmont Sept. 14. I think she will be lurking in midpack under John Velazquez, and she might be able to wear these down in late stretch.
#5 Jezebel’s Kitten (4-1) is 2-for-2 for Brad Cox, and those two flat mile turf wins were at Ellis Park (MSW) and Kentucky Downs ($100k stakes). She successfully used a different running style both times, and Florent Geroux has options with the versatile filly.
#6 Sweet Melania (9-2) was run down by Crystalle last time, and that race set up for patient runners. Todd Pletcher’s $600k daughter of American Pharoah might try get the jump on her main rivals, and Jose Ortiz rides her well. She looks like a trifecta threat.
#1 Morning Gold (10-1) followed up a 2nd to Sweet Melania with an easy front running turf route maiden win Aug. 11. She failed to handle dirt in the Pocahontas (G2) last time.
#10 Soothsaying (12-1) rallied to win her Ellis Park debut for Bill Mott, and the runner-up was a next-out winner. She adds lasix and will try to get involved late.