Concrete Rose Mixes Up Magic in G2 Jessamine

LEXINGTON, KY – Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing’s Concrete Rose mixed up a magical run on Wednesday, cruising off with ease in the stretch to win the Grade 2, $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland.

The Jessamine is the final Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event of the season, with Concrete Rose receiving an automatic berth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs on Friday, November 2.

Breaking sharply from post 2 under Jose Lezcano at 5/2 odds, Concrete Rose was outhustled heading into the far turn by only City Diva, who posted opening fractions of :23.34, :48.04, and 1:13.38. Continuing to run along the rail behind the pacesetter through the far turn, Lezcano tipped her off the rail at the 1/4 pole and aimed her four-wide as the field straightened for home. With nothing but daylight in front of her, Concrete Rose took command with a furlong remaining, then exploded in the stretch before winning by a commanding 3 lengths in a final time of 1:44.09 for the 8 1/2-furlong event over the firm turf course.

“She broke very good,” Lezcano said. “The leader tried to slow the pace down around the first turn. She (Concrete Rose) did it for me. She set up very good, and when I asked her at the 1/4 pole, she went on to win the race.”

Pakhet began her stretch run with a furious rally from mid-pack but flattened out halfway home and was unable to catch the winner, barely necking out a late-on-the-scene Belle Laura for second. A photo for fourth went to the 2/1 favorite Fierce Scarlett by a head over Princesa Carolina, who was bumped around in the first turn and had to steady twice in the stretch. Speedy Solution necked out sixth over Irish Willow and a weakened City Zip. Lightscameraaction, Zalia, Monkeys Uncle, Lucky Girasol, and Espresso Shot completed the order of finish. My Gal Betty, Moravia, and No Mo Temper completed the order of finish.

Concrete Rose’s win was her second in as many starts following a maiden-breaking debut over the Saratoga lawn on August 20. The Rusty Arnold-trained daughter of Twirling Candy has now earned $166,750 in her young career.

“We are going to the Breeders’ Cup if everything’s right; that was the plan,” Arnold said. “My biggest concern here was getting in the race. We were worried all week about getting in, and when we did, we were pretty relaxed.”

Concrete Rose returned $7.20 to win, $4.80 to place, and $3.60 to show. Pakhet brought back $11.40 to place and $6.80 to show, while Belle Laura paid $14.20 to show.