Keeneland: May Day Ready, Federal Judge win BC invitations

May Day Ready split horses in mid-stretch and got up in the final jump to nip Totally Justified by a nose to win the Grade 2, $350,000 Jessamine Stakes on Friday at Keeneland. Favored Destino d’Oro was another nose back in third.

Trained by Joe Lee and ridden by Frankie Dettori, May Day Ready completed the 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf course in 1:44.10. The victory was Lee’s first at Keeneland and qualified her for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

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Shezafunkydrummer led the field of 11 through fractions of 23.06, 48.41 and 1:13.11 with Totally Justified in closest pursuit. At the head of the stretch Totally Justified took over and opened a daylight margin that carried into deep stretch.

May Day Ready got clear running at the eighth pole and closed on the outside of Totally Justified. Destino d’Oro was rallying widest of all after being squeezed at the start and racing near the back of the pack until the top of the stretch.

The victory, the third in three starts for May Day Ready, was worth $200,725 and increased her earnings to $844,025. May Day Ready is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit out of the More Than Ready mare Nemoralia.

May Day Ready returned $10.80, $5.56 and $2.96. Totally Justified, ridden by Manny Franco, returned $6.26 and $3.82 with Destino d’Oro returning $2.62 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Mechaya who was followed in order by Italian Soiree, Shezafunkydrummer, Sashay Away, Ballerina d’Oro, Somethinabouther, Miss Lonelle and Give Life.

Mechaya’s rider Francisco Arrieta made an unsuccesful foul claim against Totally Justified, saying he was interfered with in mid-stretch. Stewards did not change the order of the finish.

Federal Judge runs away in Phoenix

Federal Judge took command at the start and then hit another gear at the top of the stretch to post an emphatic, 5 1/2-length victory Friday in the Phoenix (G2) sprint for 3-year-olds and up. The race was a win-and-you’re-in for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

The margin of victory was the largest in the race since Golden Gear won by 7 1/2 lengths in 1995.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Federal Judge completed the 6 furlongs in 1:08.20, the fastest clocking for the Phoenix since 2000, when Five Star Day won in 1:07.8 with the race timed in fifths of a second.

In winning for the fourth time in six starts, Federal Judge led the field of seven through opening fractions of 21.62 and 43.97 seconds with Comedy Town in closest pursuit.

At the head of the lane, Federal Judge began to widen his margin and coasted to victory with favored Nakatomi rallying for second.

Federal Judge is a 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Army Mule out of the Congaree mare Congarette. The victory was worth $181,350 and increased Federal Judge’s earnings to $402,960.

Sent off as the second choice, Federal Judge rewarded his backers with payoffs of $5.48, $2.90 and $2.44. Nakatomi, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.80 and $2.16 with Comedy Town finishing another half-length back in third under Drayden Van Dyke and paying $3.18 to show.

Here Mi Song was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by My Buddy B, Manny Wah and Swirvin.