36-1 shot Moonwalk pulled off a shocking upset in the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. III) on October 11th at Keeneland, gamely holding off challenges from several rivals to win the 1 1/16th miles turf race by a nose.
With Corey Lanerie abaord, Moonwalk broke well from gate four and soon found herself racing in second, about two lengths behind pace-setting Sunset Time, who rattled off slow fractions of :23.89 and :49.56 seconds. Summer of Fun, Oscar Party, Kitten's Point, Always Kitten, and Pappascat comprised the mid-pack runners, while Pure Fun, Hedonemewrongsong, Free Song, and Go Kitten Go trailed the field.
Coming off the final turn, Moonwalk moved up to challenge Sunset Time for the lead, but was beaten to it by Summer of Fun, who presented a good kick on the far outside to secure the advantage. But Moonwalk was not done yet, gamely finding another gear and poking her head in front. Then came a challenge from Kitten's Point, who was rallying powerfully on the outside and closing ground with every stride. In a dramatic finish, Moonwalk held on to win by the narrowest of margins over Kitten's Point, with Summer of Fun another head back in third while just a nose in front of Oscar Party. Sunset Time, Hedonemewrongsong, and Pure Fun rounded out the top seven -- all of them finishing within 1 1/4 lengths of the winner -- while Pappascat, Go Kitten Go, Always Kitten, and Free Song completed the order of finish.
The winner is trained by Dale Romans and owned by Spendthrift Farm. A daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Red Ransom mare Lucinda K, Moonwalk has now compiled a record of 2-1-1 from four starts, with earnings of $122,150.
-Keelerman
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