Tommy Jo is 2-for-2 after Spinaway triumph at Saratoga

Under a perfect ride by Kendrick Carmouche, Spendthrift Farm’s Kentucky homebred Tommy Jo powered to a 6 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

The 134th running of the Spinaway was a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

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Eric Gustavson, owner and president of Spendthrift Farm, said he was thrilled by the performance from Todd Pletcher-trained Tommy Jo in her stakes debut.

“She ran great and is a homebred, which is extra exciting for us, that she was raised on the farm and every division on the farm had a hand in getting her here,” Gustavson said. “It was a big team win and we preach a we, not-me mentality at the farm first, so that’s a big deal for us. And she is named after our only granddaughter (Tammy Jo Gustavson) as well, so that is like the cherry on top of it all.”

Tommy Jo, by Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief, entered from a dominant debut victory at Saratoga under John Velázquez on July 26. That was when she scored by 3 3/4 lengths over next-out winner Tennessee Belle. With Velázquez in California to ride Pletcher-trained Fierceness to victory in the Pacific Classic (G1), Carmouche picked up the mount on Tommy Jo and engineered a perfect trip. He secured the fourth Grade 1 win of his career and second at the meet following Deterministic’s victory in the Fourstardave last month.

Tommy Jo exited post 5 in the field of seven and stalked from third. Previously undefeated graded-stakes winner Mythical dueled on the lead with Sina, who marked the opening quarter-mile in 22.22 seconds before Mythical put her head in front after a half-mile in 44.54 seconds over the fast main track.

“That was pretty much what Todd and I thought going into it. We just let those horses develop the race,” Carmouche said. “With the stride this filly got and how she turned around the corner in her last race at the half-mile with Johnny (Velázquez), I just let this horse cruise into the turn. I thought I was on much the best in this race. I just had to wait to go.”

Carmouche was content to track three wide before advancing at the three-eighths pole and taking command late in the turn. Tommy Jo opened by six lengths at the stretch call and stopped the clock at a final time of 1:23.39.

It was a record-extending seventh Spinaway win for Pletcher, who had shared the record with the late Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, before Tommy Jo’s decisive score.

“I think she got away a little cleaner today, put herself and Kendrick into a good spot,” Pletcher said. “She is so push button, runs the turns extremely well and kind of blew the race open at that point, but she’s trained like a special one all summer, and obviously her first two races have been very exciting.”

Luan Machado-piloted Percy’s Bar, last-out winner of the listed Debutante at Churchill Downs, closed to finish second with another 4 3/4 lengths back to Rileytole in third. Day to Day and Mythical followed with Sina and Spirit Doll dead-heating for sixth. Meringue, Steer Clear and Ornellaia were scratched. Meringue is entered in Sunday’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies.

Pletcher said Tommy Jo could make her next start in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1) on Oct. 3 at Keeneland, a two-turn test that would serve as a bridge to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“The way she trained into this, and the way she galloped out in her breezes, it gives us confidence that she is not just fast but can stretch that speed out as well,” Pletcher said.

Tommy Jo banked $165,000 in victory while remaining perfect in two starts. She returned $4.00 for a $2 win bet. Tommy Jo is out of multiple Grade 1-placed Pioneerof the Nile mare Mother Mother, a half-sister to 2014 Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve.

Gustavson will be cheering on Ted Noffey, who his farm owns outright, and Emphasis, who is co-owned with Repole Stable, in Monday’s Hopeful (G1) on closing day at Saratoga.