Averly Jane Wins Kentucky Juvenile

LOUISVILLE, KY – Hat Creek Racing’s Averly Jane roared past pacesetting Bohemian Frost at the 1/16 pole en route to a 3 1/4-length victory in the 27th running of the $150,000 Kentucky Juvenile for 2-year-olds on Wednesday afternoon.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Averly Jane covered the five furlongs in :58.64 over a sloppy main track.

Inside Track to the 2021 Kentucky Derby

Subscribe to Racing Dudes Premium and receive our MONSTER wagering guide to the 2021 Kentucky Derby absolutely FREE!

Get Racing Dudes Premium

The victory is the third in the race for Ward, who also won with fillies Silvertoni in 2016 and Aegean in 2009.

Bohemian Frost shot to the front out of the gate with Averly Jane tracking in second. Gaffalione sent Averly Jane after the leader at the head of the stretch and then drew clear at the 1/16 pole.

“She’s a naturally fast filly, most of (Ward’s) horses are,” Gaffalione said. “She jumped out well, but she just got out-sprinted for the lead. We didn’t want to get into a speed duel. I was able to get to the outside. When my filly hit the lane, she gave me everything she had.”

The victory was worth $91,140 and increased Averly Jane’s earnings to $127,140 with 2 wins in 2 starts. She is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Midshipman out of the Richter Scale mare Sh Sh Shakin.

Sent off as the heavy favorite off a maiden victory at Keeneland, Averly Jane returned $3, $2.40 and $2.20.

“Nothing to it; she was training good, she was doing good, and she ran good,” said assistant trainer Blake Heap. “Didn’t tell the jock a thing; he saw the videos and he knew what to do.”

Vodka N Water rallied for second under Ricardo Santana Jr. and paid $3.60 and $2.80 with Bohemian Frost paying $2.80 to show under Gerardo Corrales.