by Ron Parker

Jazzy (Arg) charged between horses in the stretch Saturday to win her first graded stakes race in the United States with a three-quarter-length victory in the $147,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park.

Great Intentions immediately took the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong race, taking the field through a half-mile in :45.66 while Jazzy settled in third place.

Turning for home Great Intentions weakened as both Pussycat Doll and Jazzy came up to battle for the lead. Jazzy proved the most determined as Pussycat Doll began to tire late. Cuaba, who had stumbled at the start, made a game late run to take second, a half-length in front of Pussycat Doll, as Jazzy crossed the wire in 1:16.71 on the fast track.

“She’s a neat little horse,” trainer Mark Hennig said. “She had trained well going into [the Gallant Bloom], and I know Garrett had a lot of confidence off the break. She was right in the bridle and handling everything pretty good. The race didn’t quite unfold the way we thought it would. Garrett thought the speed would be to the outside, but it turned out to be to his inside. She got a good trip because of it.”

Owned by Team Valor, Des Scott, and Robert Muir, the five-year-old Mutakddim mare raced exclusively in South Africa before coming to the U.S. for this year’s campaign.

Hennig started her on turf, saddling her to a second-place finish in the Incredible Revenge Stakes on July 21 at Monmouth Park and most recently winning the Capades Stakes on August 22 at Saratoga Race Course.

The trainer entered her in the Gallant Bloom to see if she would take to a dirt track, and the answer came loud and clear.

Hennig indicated he would discuss the possibilities of running her in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park on October 26.

Out of the Southern Halo mare Jollie Fille, Jazzy has earned $186,716 with five wins from ten starts.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer