Keeneland news: Jones gives Ours to Run a big TCA test

When Street Band won the Cotillion (G1) at Parx on Sept. 21, she earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Trainer Larry Jones hopes he can get a traveling companion for Street Band when he sends out Colonel Thoroughbreds’ Ours to Run in Saturday’s 39th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a “Win and You’re In” race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

A Louisiana-bred 5-year-old mare, Ours to Run worked 5 furlongs in :59.60 over a fast track Monday morning with jockey Gabriel Saez aboard. Working on her own, the daughter of Half Ours carved out fractions of :12.20, :24.60, :36.20, :48.20 and galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:12.40. The five-eighths time was the fastest of four at the distance for the morning.

Acquired in a private purchase in late 2017, Ours to Run has started 12 times for Jones and posted eight victories with seven coming in stakes. Six of those wins were in restricted Louisiana-bred races with the seventh coming against open company in the Carousel at Oaklawn Park in April.

“The owner knew she was nearing the end of her career and didn’t want to do another Louisiana winter and wanted to find out how good she was,” Jones said.

In the Carousel, they found out.

“She beat Mia Mischief (by 3¾ lengths) and then Mia Mischief goes on and wins a Grade 1 (Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs),” Jones said. “At Saratoga (in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss), she just got caught in the last jump for second by Chalon, who almost won the Breeders’ Cup (Filly and Mare Sprint) last year.”

Both of those fillies are expected to pass the entry box Wednesday morning for the 6-furlong Thoroughbred race.

“We have been pointing for this race (since Saratoga),” Jones said of Ours to Run, who arrived at Keeneland last Thursday from Ellis Park. “She runs well fresh. She had worked last Tuesday at Ellis and this morning I was looking for around a minute.”

La Troienne Presented by Inside Access from Chase (G1) winner She’s a Julie worked a half-mile in :50.20 early Monday morning over a fast track in preparation for Sunday’s $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1). Trained by Steve Asmussen, She’s a Julie clocked her final quarter-mile in :24.40, according to Keeneland clockers. She races for Whispering Oaks Farm, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Madaket Stables. …       

Tracy Farmer’s Perfect Alibi, the likely favorite for Friday’s $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), arrived Sunday night from Belmont Park and galloped over the main track Monday morning. Trained by three-time Darley Alcibiades winner Mark Casse, Perfect Alibi won the Spinaway (G1) and Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent starts.