Jaywalk Cuts Across Dirt Sharpest in G1 Frizette

ELMONT, NY – Cash is King and Leonard Green’s Jaywalk took command early and held off all runners who dared cross her, cutting across the dirt best of all in Sunday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Frizette is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Jaywalk receiving an automatic berth in the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Friday, November 2.

Breaking sharply from post 2 under Joel Rosario at 6/1 odds, Jaywalk took command down the backstretch before posting fractions of :22.63, :45.65, and 1:0971. Met with a challenge from the 3/5 favorite Covfefe midway through the far turn, Jaywalk dispatched of her as she straightened for home and drew off convincingly to win by 5 3/4 lengths. The John Servis trainee’s final time for the 8-furlong event over the fast main track was 1:34.57.

“She wanted to go to the front,” Rosario said. “I thought there was a lot of speed on paper, and then John told me just let her break and let her run however she wanted. I just let her go ahead and be happy and she really handled it. She looked like she would keep going at the 1/4 pole, and (with) her long stride, she really handled the trip well.

Brucia La Terra finished well for second by 3/4 of a length over Cassies Dreamer, while Covfefe flattened in the stretch and finished a disappointing fourth. Nonna Madeline, Sue’s Fortune, and Take Me to Hardoon completed the order of finish. Graceful Princess was scratched.

Jaywalk’s win was her third straight in as many starts, having broken her maiden at Parx on July 24 before winning the $50,000 White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park on August 22. The daughter of Cross Traffic now carries a record of 4-3-1-0 with earnings of $284,200.

“I told Joel the speed is there if you need it, but there’s plenty of speed in here, if you let her fall out of there, play it by ear,” Servis said. “If the other horses go, sit behind them, she’ll do that – that’s not an issue with her – and if they don’t go, then put her where you’re comfortable.”

Jaywalk returned $15.20 to win, $6.200 to place, and $4 to show. Brucia La Terra brought back $13 to place and $6.80 to show, while Cassies Dreamer paid $3.40 to show.