Keeneland: Champion filly Jaywalk works for Ashland Stakes

Keeneland’s barn notes for Sunday, March 31, by the track’s publicity department:

(Photo of Jaywalk by Coady Photography)

SERVIS WORKS CHAMPION JAYWALK FOR CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND,  LUCKY LEE FOR BLUE GRASS

D.J. Stable and Cash is King’s champion filly Jaywalk tuned up for an expected start in Saturday’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) by working a half-mile on her own in :48.60 over a fast main track Sunday morning at Keeneland.

Working well off the rail under exercise rider Lucas Berticelli, Jaywalk produced fractions of :11.80, :23.40, :48.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:03.20.

“Perfect,” said Tyler Servis, son of trainer John Servis. “She had her major work last week (6 furlongs in company in 1:14.40 at Palm Meadows training center in Florida) and we did what we wanted this morning without much of a gallop out.”

Jaywalk secured the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly with dominating, front-running victories in the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park and Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs.

In her 2019 debut, Jaywalk finished fourth as the 1-5 favorite in the Davona Dale (G2) on March 2 at Gulfstream Park. Sunday’s work was her third since the Davona Dale.

“We didn’t want to her to peak too soon,” Tyler Servis said of the first start back. “She is a light-framed filly like a lot of fillies from the Unbridled’s Song line, and I think the heat in Florida got to her a little bit.”

Jaywalk, from the first crop of the Unbridled’s Song stallion Cross Traffic, arrived at Keeneland Tuesday. With the cooler temperatures “she has acclimated well,” Servis said.

Javier Castellano, who was aboard Jaywalk for her last work at Palm Meadows, is expected to have the call Saturday. John Servis is scheduled to arrive in Lexington Wednesday.

The John Servis-trained Lucky Lee working at Keeneland under exercise rider Lucas Berticelli for the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass. Coady Photography

Also working for the Servis barn Sunday morning was Cash is King and Leonard Green’s Lucky Lee, aiming for Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2).

Working on his own after Jaywalk and with Berticelli aboard, Lucky Lee covered a half-mile in :49 with internal splits of :12 and :24, again well off the rail.

“Same as Jaywalk; perfect,” Tyler Servis said, noting that Chris Landeros would have the mount in the Toyota Blue Grass.

Lucky Lee has not run since a seventh-place finish in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct on Feb. 2. Sunday’s work was his fourth since the Withers.

“He’s had a lot of two-minute licks,” Servis said of Lucky Lee, who has won two of four starts. “In the Withers, he was just spinning his wheels. He was coming off a tight track in Florida and that track was cuppy and he never got hold of the track.”

HONEYBEE WINNER CHOCOLATE KISSES TUNES UP FOR CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

Debby Oxley’s Chocolate Kisses completed her major preparations for Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) by working a half-mile in :50 over a fast track before the renovation break Sunday morning.

Working in company with the 3-year-old maiden winner Furiously Fast, Chocolate Kisses posted fractions of :12.60, :24.60, :37.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:03.40.

Trained by Mark Casse, Chocolate Kisses returns to Keeneland, where she was fourth in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) in October.

“She ran well here last fall and she has confidence coming into the Ashland off a win,” said David Carroll, who is overseeing Casse’s Keeneland string. “She needs pace to run at, and the Honeybee ([G3] at Oaklawn Park on March 16) set up real well for her.”

GALLOPING OUT

Trainer Brian Lynch, at Keeneland Sunday morning, said defending Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) winner Heart to Heart is scheduled to arrive here Tuesday from South Florida.

Owned by Terry Hamilton, Heart to Heart was runner-up in the 2016 and 2017 renewals of the Maker’s 46 Mile before winning the race last year for his second career Grade 1 victory. He has 11 graded stakes scores overall.

OPENING WEEKEND STAKES PROBABLES

Nine stakes worth $2.85 million will be run during the opening week of Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet that opens Thursday, April 4. Click here for the lists of nominations and past performances for the stakes.

According to Stakes Coordinator Tiffany Bourque, here are the prospective field for those races:

$100,000 PALISADES TURF SPRINT (Entries taken Monday, April 1; race Thursday, April 4) – Bulletin (trainer Todd Pletcher), Dom Carlos (IRE) (Mark Casse), Gladiator King (Jaime Mejia), Real News (Al Stall Jr.), Strike Silver (Casse), Tobacco Road (Steve Asmussen), Uncapped (Brendan Walsh), Vivid Verse (Joe Sharp), Vogt (Asmussen) and Yes I Am Free (Casse). Possible: Blame the Frog (Ben Colebrook), Joyful Heart (Brian Lynch) and Red Island (IRE) (Phil D’Amato).

$150,000 KENTUCKY UTILITIES TRANSYLVANIA (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, April 2; race Friday, April 5 – Dunph (Mike Maker), Go Away (Eddie Kenneally), Henley’s Joy (Maker), Louder Than Bombs (David Fawkes), Magnificent McCool (Steve Asmussen), More Ice (Jerry Hollendorfer), Spectacular Gem (James Baker), The Black Album (FR) (Rodolphe Brisset), War Film (Asmussen) and Weekly Call (Doug O’Neill).

$1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 3; race Saturday, April 6 – Admire (Dale Romans), Chess Chief (Stewart), Dream Maker (Mark Casse), Hoffa’s Union (Casse), Lucky Lee (John Servis), Market King (D. Wayne Lukas), Mr. Ankeny (Romans), Moonster (Romans), Parsimony (Doug O’Neill), Signalman (Kenny McPeek), Sir Winston (Casse), So Alive (Todd Pletcher), Somelikeithotbrown (Mike Maker), Vekoma (George Weaver) and Win Win Win (Michael Trombetta). Possible: Galilean (Jerry Hollendorfer), Joevia (Greg Sacco), Our Braintrust (Casse) and Tax (Danny Gargan).

$500,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 3; race Saturday, April 6 – Bell’s the One (Neil Pessin), Bizwhacks (Doug O’Neill), Chocolate Kisses (Mark Casse), Feedback (Chad Brown), Jaywalk (John Servis), Lady Kate (Eddie Kenneally), Needs Supervision (Jeremiah O’Dwyer) and Restless Rider (Kenny McPeek). Possible: Orra Moor (Todd Pletcher) and Oxy Lady (Jack Sisterson).

$300,000 MADISON (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 3; race Saturday, April 6) – Amy’s Challenge (Mac Robertson), Cathedral Reader (Dallas Stewart), Late Night Pow Wow (Javier Contreras), Shamrock Rose (Mark Casse), Spiced Perfection (Peter Miller) and Sultry (Eddie Kenneally).

$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 3; race Saturday, April 6) – Bobby’s Wicked One (Al Stall Jr.), Copper Town (Todd Pletcher), Limousine Liberal (Ben Colebrook), Runaway Ghost (Todd Fincher), Still Having Fun (Tim Keefe), Storm Advisory (Anthony Quartarolo), Uno Mas Modelo (Quartarolo) and Warrior’s Club (D. Wayne Lukas).

$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 3; race Saturday, April 6) – Angaston (Lon Wiggins), Captain Scotty (Peter Miller), Chaos Theory (Brendan Walsh), Imprimis (Joe Orseno), Jazzy Times (Wes Hawley), Latest Revenge (Greg Foley), Richard’s Boy (Miller) and Shakhimat (Roger Attfield).

$200,000 APPALACHIAN (G2) PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION (Entries taken Thursday, April 4; race Sunday, April 7) – Angel Alessandra (Peter Miller), Beautiful Ballad (Mark Casse), Catch a Thrill (Casse), Clause (Chad Brown), Hard Legacy (Norm Casse), Primela (FR) (Cherie DeVaux), Princesa Carolina (Kenny McPeek) and Regal Glory (Brown).

$150,000 BEAUMONT (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT (Entries taken Thursday, April 4; race Sunday, April 7) – Another Time (Barbara Minshall), Bold Script (Stuart Simon), Fancy Dress Party (Ben Colebrook), Mother Mother (Bob Baffert), Power Gal (JPN) (Mark Casse) and Queen of Beas (Jorge Abreu).

CATCH “KEENELAND MAGAZINE ON TV” TODAY

The popular “Keeneland Magazine on TV” will air today at 5:30 p.m. on The CW Lexington.

Features are:

• “WinStar’s Comet” – Justify blazed a Triple Crown path that exemplified the farm’s successful change in strategy.
• “Spirits Moved Them” – A pair of visionaries reimagines the bourbon experience with Castle & Key, one of the most lauded – and stunning – new distilleries in America.
• “Royal Treatment” – Central Kentucky’s landmark castle wows guests with sumptuous lodgings, delicious cuisine and memorable events.
• “Making a Difference” – Rescuing Yoder:  The saga of a trapped police horse brings out the community’s affection for the four-legged members of the Lexington Mounted Police Unit.