BALTIMORE, MD – Juddmonte Farms homebred Juliet Foxtrot‘s class advantage over her rivals prevailed in Saturday’s $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3) at Pimlico.
Juliet Foxtrot was the even-money favorite as she broke from the rail under Florent Geroux, who encouraged her to be forwardly-placed from the start.
Jabuticaba cleared the field from post 7 and led heading into the clubhouse turn, causing Geroux to tap on the brakes sligthly and tip Juliet Foxtrot out to stalk two-wide in the clear.
After closely chasing through opening fractions of :25.24, :50.49, and 1:15.92, Juliet Foxtrot ranged up under her own power and took the lead midway through the far turn.
Set down for the stretch drive, the Brad Cox trainee had more than enough left to hold off a rallying Varenka and win the 1 1/16-mile yielding turf route in 1:49.24.
Varenka’s last-to-first dash in the stretch came up a length short of victory, but she was 2 1/4 lengths clear of No Mo Lady for second, with She’sonthewarpath a head behind her in fourth.
Storm the Hill and Jabuticaba completed the order of finish.
Wicked Awesome (Main Track Only entry) and Not in Jeopardy were scratched.
Juliet Foxtrot’s win was her first since the Modesty Handicap (G3) in July 2019 and improved her overall record to 18-5-2-2 with $485,831 earned. The British-bred 5-year-old Dansili mare has faced several of the top American turf distaffers since that last victory, putting together a record of 6-0-2-2 in those starts.
Juliet Foxtrot returned $4.20 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Varenka brought back $4 to place and $3.20 to show, while No Mo Lady paid $3.40 to show.
