'Light-framed' Jaywalk rounds into form for Ashland Stakes

D. J. Stable and Cash is King’s champion filly Jaywalk tuned up for an expected start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Central Bank Ashland by working a half-mile on her own in :48.60 over a fast main track Sunday morning at Keeneland.

Working well off the rail under exercise rider Lucas Berticelli, Jaywalk produced fractions of :11.80, :23.40, :48.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:03.20.

“Perfect,” said Tyler Servis, son of trainer John Servis. “She had her major work last week (6 furlongs in company in 1:14.40 at Palm Meadows training center in Florida) and we did what we wanted this morning without much of a gallop out.”

Jaywalk secured the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly with dominating, front-running victories in the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park and  Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs.

In her 2019 debut, Jaywalk finished fourth as the 1-5 favorite in the Davona Dale (G2) on March 2 at Gulfstream Park. Sunday’s work was her third since the Davona Dale.

“We didn’t want to her to peak too soon,” Tyler Servis said of the first start back. “She is a light-framed filly like a lot of fillies from the Unbridled’s Song line, and I think the heat in Florida got to her a little bit.”

Jaywalk, from the first crop of the Unbridled’s Song stallion Cross Traffic, arrived at Keeneland Tuesday. With the cooler temperatures “she has acclimated well,” Servis said.

Javier Castellano, who was aboard Jaywalk for her last work at Palm Meadows, is expected to have the call Saturday. John Servis is scheduled to arrive in Lexington Wednesday.

Also working for the Servis barn Sunday morning was Cash is King and Leonard Green’s Lucky Lee, aiming for Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass (G2).

Working on his own after Jaywalk and with Berticelli aboard, Lucky Lee covered a half-mile in :49 with internal splits of :12 and :24, again well off the rail.

“Same as Jaywalk; perfect,” Tyler Servis said, noting that Chris Landeros would have the mount in the Toyota Blue Grass.

Lucky Lee has not run since a seventh-place finish in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct on Feb. 2. Sunday’s work was his fourth since the Withers.

“He’s had a lot of two-minute licks,” Servis said of Lucky Lee, who has won two of four starts. “In the Withers, he was just spinning his wheels. He was coming off a tight track in Florida and that track was cuppy and he never got hold of the track.”