Kentucky Derby Race Day Honored Eight Belles
New Stakes Honoring 2008 Filly On Card -- Jones Entered Just Jenda
May 5, 2009 BarbaraAnne Helberg
After the tragedy involving Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, Barbaro's trainer, Michael Matz, won the inaugural running of the Barbaro Stakes with a colt named Chelokee.
Trainer Larry Jones, who conditioned Eight Belles, nearly pulled off a similar tribute with Just Jenda on the 2009 Kentucky Derby day undercard. Jones' filly, Just Jenda, named after a family member, went to post in the initial running of the $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G3) May 2. The race is named for the filly Eight Belles who ran second to Big Brown in 2008's Kentucky Derby, then shockingly collapsed, inexplicably broke both front ankles, and was immediately euthanized.
Eight Belles Stakes May 2
Eight three-year-old fillies entered the first ever Eight Belles Stakes, a 7-1/2 furlong race run on the Churchill Downs main track several contests prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Just Jenda was the 9-5 favorite in the Eight Belles, which was preceded by the sounding of eight bells in honor of the fallen filly. Flirting with capturing the lead at the 3/16 pole, Just Jenda was caught by Four Gifts, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan. The Jones filly yielded, and Four Gifts sped away with the victory.
Just Jenda finished a strong second, two lengths in front of Warrior Maid, but was beaten to the wire by three lengths by Four Gifts, trained by Steve Asmussen.
Accredit Captures Churchill Downs Stakes
Jockey Julien Laparoux got a three-win start on Kentucky Derby day before mounting General Quarters for the Run for the Roses and finishing tenth. Leparoux won on Accredit in the $250,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2), aboard filly Informed Decision in the $300,000 Humana Distaff (G1), and with the accomplished senior horse Einstein in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1).
The seven furlong Churchill Downs Stakes for older horses was the opening race on Derby day. Leparoux guided Accredit through fast fractions in the first two furlongs as the pair duked it out with Hewitts while favorite Kodiak Kowboy, another Larry Jones trainee, stayed back.
Second favorite My Pal Charlie charged late, but Accredit was game enough to not give in, and he finished in 1:23.24 in the slop, winning by 1-3/4 lengths. Leparoux claimed Accredit answered every call for effort to get the victory.
Informed Decision Takes Humana Distaff
Leparoux got Informed Decision up to a winning surge in the seven furlong Humana for older fillies and mares after Dubai Majesty tired on the lead and Temple Street had taken over. Informed Decision launched from fourth position to catch Temple Street by 3/4 length at the wire. The race time was 1:23.69.
Dubai Majesty held on enough to create a third place dead heat with closer Modification in the field of nine.
Jonathan Sheppard trains Informed Decision.
Einstein Captures Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
The 1-1/8 miles $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) for older turf horses featured its defending champion as the favorite, Einstein, in a gutsy finishing head kick to the wire in 1:49.62 for trainer Helen Pitts.
Einstein raced fifth early on, and gave his jockey everything in the final drive from six wide for the stirring win. He nipped Cowboy Cal and left Court Vision third, 3-3/4 lengths further back.
Tizaqueena Triumphs In Churchill Distaff Turf Mile
Jockey Jamie Theriot and Tizaqueena cruised over the grass in the $200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile in 1:38.86, checking off challenges from Rasierra early and Dawn After Dawn late. The margin of victory was 3/4 length. Lemon Chiffon went third, behind by another 1/2 length.
Michael Stidham, trainer of Tizaqueena, reported he believed his charge took a good step forward in her turf career.
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