Joy’s Rocket Wires Songbird

LEXINGTON, KY – Speedy from the get-go, Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Joy’s Rocket took the field on a fruitless chase from gate to wire in Friday’s $125,000 Songbird Stakes at Keeneland.

Though 9/2 on the morning line, Joy’s Rocket broke alertly from post 6 under Ricardo Santana Jr. at ignored odds of 8/1 and went straight to the front.

Though several rivals flanked her outside and pressed her early, Joy’s Rocket settled comfortably along the rail through opening fractions of :21.93 and :44.97.

Dispatching most of her rivals in the far turn, Joy’s Rocket straightened for home with only Farsighted still in the hunt, but when let loose at the top of the stretch, Joy’s Rocket was soon gone.

Opening up in the late stages, the Steve Asmussen trainee crossed 3 lengths the best while completing the 6 1/2-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:16.18.

Farsighted stayed on for second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the 70/1 longshot Roc’s Princess, who nipped Guana Cay and Off We Go for third and fourth by a 1/2-length and a neck, respectively.

The Grass Is Blue, Taylor’s Tourist, Music City Star, Princesstapiture, Lady Edith, Novel Squall, California Lily, Kela’s Turn, and Thinking completed the order of finish.

Mona Stella was scratched from the field restricted to 2-year-old fillies.

Joy’s Rocket’s win was her second at the stakes level following the My Dear at Woodbine in August and improved her overall record to 5-3-1-0. The Florida-bred daughter of Anthony’s Cross, purchased for $47,000 this past March, has now earned $184,444.

Joy’s Rocket returned $19 to win, $8.40 to place, and $5.80 to show. Farsighted brought back $6.40 to place and $4.20 to show, while Roc’s Princess paid $19 to show.