Juju’s Map Rolls In Alcibiades

LEXINGTON, KY – Albaugh Family Stables’ Juju’s Map rolled to a dominating 4 1/4-length victory in Friday’s $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

The Alcibiades is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, awarding an automatic berth in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar this November.

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Juju’s Map broke from the rail as the 2/1 favorite in the field of 11 2-year-old fillies and jockey Florent Geroux pushed her hard to avoid being pinched back heading into the clubhouse turn.

With her position secure while cornering, Juju’s Map allowed the far outside-breaking Runup to post early fractions of :22.75 and :46 flat while the bettors’ choice raced a lane out in a stalking position.

Juju’s Map made her move heading into the far turn with her Brad Cox stablemate Matareya sticking to her right hip, but she disposed of her remora at the top of the stretch before drawing off to win the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:43.52.

“She’s very talented to start with, but today it was tricky because there were a couple other speed horses,” Geroux said. “From the 1 hole, you have to use speed to your advantage, to make sure they don’t cross over and slow it down too fast. I just wanted to break ahead so if they wanted the lead, they would have to work for it, and that’s what they did.”

One-start maiden Distinctlypossible rallied impressively in the stretch to take second by a neck over Sequist, while Mama Rina headed a dead heat for fifth between Matareya and Dream Lith.

Penny Saver, Miss Interpret, Runup, Myfavoritedaughter, and an eased Pipeline Girl completed the order of finish. Diamond Wow scratched in favor of next Wednesday’s local Jessamine Stakes (G2), a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Juju’s Map’s win was her second straight following a maiden-breaking score in a 1-mile Ellis Park dirt route and improved her overall record to 3-2-1-0. The Liam’s Map filly, purchased for $300,000 as a yearling, has now banked $280,800.

“She sat close to a hot pace and was still able to finish, and I thought, ‘That’s what good horses do,’” Cox said. “She broke running, Florent put her in a good position, and she finished up well. I’m very proud of her performance. We’ll obviously talk it over with the Albaugh team, and as long as she comes out of it in good order, I think we’ll march on toward California.”

Juju’s Map returned $6.80 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.40 to show. Distinctlypossible brought back $6.40 to place and $4.80 to show. Sequist paid $7.40 to show.