NEWS
Careless Jewel sparkles in Cotillion win
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009 8:21 PM
CARELESS JEWEL
Alyssa Spakowski/Equi-Photo
To watch a video of the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes, click here.
by Tom De Martini
Careless Jewel stamped herself as a solid contender for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) with a front-running 3½-length victory in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Philadelphia Park, marking her third consecutive graded stakes win.
The gray or roan three-year-old Tapit filly entered the race off back-to-back wins in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 22 at Saratoga Race Course and the Delaware Oaks (G2) on July 18 at Delaware Park.
Careless Jewel, who has thrived running on or close to the lead, broke alertly and took command quickly under jockey Robert Landry.
Landry guided the Josie Carroll trainee through fractions of :22.93 for the opening quarter, :45.72 for a half-mile, and 1:09.34 for six furlongs while racing wide under a stout hold as Cat Moves pursued from second. The 3-to-10 favorite drifted out on the far turn but straightened her course and drew off easily when roused, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.40 on a track rated as fast.
“I decided I’d play the start by ear,” Landry said. “I was going to let her come running out of there, but if the other horse [Cat Moves] wanted the lead, I was going to let her go. She was just tremendous today—a talented, talented filly.”
Careless Jewel acted up prior to the race and was excused from the post parade.
“She’s very hard on herself,” Landry said. “She just doesn’t know any other way. It’s like she trains herself. Josie has done a terrific job getting her to settle down. She’s now much better behaved.”
Bon Jovi Girl closed well to gain second by 1¼ lengths in front of third-place finisher Key Lime Baby. Two-time Grade 3 winner Just Jenda, the 4.70-to-1 second choice, finished fourth. Cat Moves faded to fifth in the six-horse field.
Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. and Bill Andrade, Careless Jewel earned $430,500 for the Cotillion victory. She has won five of six career starts and sports a total bankroll of $1,013,346.
Owners Vern and Donna Dubinsky of Donver Stable purchased the filly, who is out of the unraced Hennessy mare Sweet and Careless, for $40,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. Sweet and Careless is a half sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Subordination.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tom De Martini is a New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
