Romantic Vision splashes home in Juddmonte Spinster

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s homebred Romantic Vision swept to the lead leaving the far turn and cruised to a two-length victory over Martini Glass to win the 62nd running of the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares.

The Juddmonte Spinster closed a spectacular Fall Stars Weekend marked by near-record crowds and outstanding racing that saw eight Keeneland stakes winners secure automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 3-4 at Del Mar.

Romantic Vision, trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., earned a fees-paid berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Del Mar.

In the race prior to the Juddmonte Spinster, John Oxley’s Flameaway nosed out Tigers Rule with favored Tap Daddy another nose back to win the 27th running of the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon for 2-year-olds. The race was moved off the turf to the main track.

 

In the Juddmonte Spinster, longshot Duchess of Duke led the field of nine through fractions of :23.96, :48.26 and 1:12.56 with Romantic Vision in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Romantic Vision surged to the front and shrugged off a brief challenge from You Know Too and later from Martini Glass to secure her second consecutive graded-stakes victory.  

 

It was the second victory in the race for Humphrey and Arnold who teamed to win the 1997 running with Clear Mandate.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Perfect for You, Romantic Vision covered the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy main track in 1:49.70. The victory was worth $300,000 and increased Romantic Vision’s earnings to $610,086 with a record of 19-6-4-2.

Romantic Vision returned $14.80, $7.60 and $5.60. Martini Glass, ridden by Paco Lopez, returned $6.80 and $5.20 and finished 5½ lengths in front of Blue Prize (ARG), who paid $4.80 to show under James Graham.

It was another half-length back to Lockdown in fourth. She was followed in order by You Know Too, favored Bar of Gold, Duchess of Duke, Tiger Moth and Factory of Faith.