Irish Jasper, Possessed Win Closing Day Stakes at Big A
After wintering in Florida and making a pit stop in Maryland, Irish Jasper returned to New York to take the $100,000 Belle Harbor for 3-year-old fillies on Closing Day at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Owned and trained by Derek Ryan, Irish Jasper began her career last fall at Parx Racing, where she won a $25,000 maiden claimer by 8 ½ lengths. Protected in her next start - a starter allowance race at the Big A - the daughter of First Defence finished a fast-closing third on November 20.
From there, the dark bay or brown filly doubled back to Parx to win a starter allowance race before spending the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, where she won the Gasparilla by a half-length before finishing eighth in the two-turn Suncoast on January 31.
On her way back to New York, Ryan elected to run his talented filly in the five-furlong Stormy Blues on turf at Pimlico, but she could only manage a distant fourth-place finish after a troubled beginning.
"I sort of stopped by Pimlico on the way back from Tampa and got a good five-eighths work on the turf in her," said Ryan. "She came out of the race really good; I was confident she'd run a good race [in the Belle Harbor]."
Sent off as a 13-1 outsider in the field of five, Irish Jasper put away her better regarded foes convincingly, cruising home to a one-length victory under Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard for her maiden win.
"She broke good, but I just wanted to tuck her in and let her get a little bit of dirt at the beginning," said Carmouche. "Once we got to the half-mile pole, I just let her have a clear trip because I saw Irad [Ortiz, Jr. aboard Perchance] was gearing up but getting trapped in a little. The best thing I could do was tip her out and see if I could outrun [Perchance] from the quarter-pole home."
Irish Jasper returned $28.40 on a $2 win wager, and completed the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.85. Her career bankroll now stands at $135,800.
Perchance, the 7-5 favorite trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, survived a long inquiry to remain in second place. Lakeside Sunset finished third, 4 ¼ lengths in front of graded stakes winner Paulassilverlining. Lindisfarne completed the order of finish.
In the New York Stallion Series Times Square, the Charlton Baker-trained Possessed prevailed by a length over Organic Gemini. Possessed, a 3-year-old son of Posse, is also owned by Baker along with Daniel Hayden.
In the Times Square's filly counterpart, the NYSS Park Avenue, Take Issue launched a wide rally to register a 14-1 upset for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Lewis Dinner, the even-money favorite, finished second by 1 ¼ lengths.