Gemologist wore down favored Ever So Lucky deep in the Churchill Downs homestretch to win the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II).
Under an excellent ride by Javier Castellano, the Todd Pletcher-trained, Winstar Farm-owned Gemologist settled into mid-pack as Ever So Lucky sprinted away from gate one to take the early lead. However, a maiden named Seve was intent on getting the lead from gate eleven and swept up to take it around the first turn. The opening fractions were fairly quick -- :23.98 and :47.49. Rounding the far turn, Ever So Lucky and Gemologist made simultaneous bids for the lead on the outside of Seve and entered the homestretch locked together in combat. But it was soon apparent that Gemologist was moving the stronger of the two, and soon put away his game rival to take the lead and win the mile and a sixteenth race in 1:44.46. Timely Tally put in a huge run from last under Calvin Borel to secure third, with Optimizer finishing fourth after looming dangerous in the stretch.
-Keelerman
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