Concrete Rose Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth with JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Victory

By Amy Owens —-

Concrete Rose Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth
with JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Victory

LEXINGTON, KY. (Oct. 10, 2018) – Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing’s Concrete Rose moved to the front inside the eighth pole and powered her way to a 3-length victory over Pakhet to win the 28th running of the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies before a Wednesday afternoon crowd of 9,331.
Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Jose Lezcano, Concrete Rose covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:44.09 in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, which earned her a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.
City Diva led the field of 13 through fractions of :23.34, :48.04 and 1:13.38 with Monkeys Uncle in closest pursuit as Lezcano hugged the inside rail with Concrete Rose.
At the head of the lane, Lezcano swung Concrete Rose to the four path for clear running and by midstretch the decision was no longer in doubt as she seized control and never was threatened in the run to the finish line.
The victory was worth $120,000 and improved her earnings to $166,750 with her second victory in two starts. A Keeneland sales graduate, Concrete Rose is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Powerscourt (GB) mare Solerina.
Sent off as the second choice, Concrete Rose returned $7.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Pakhet, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $11.40 and $6.80 and finished a neck in front of Belle Laura who paid $14.20 to show under Corey Lanerie.
Favored Fierce Scarlett finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth and was followed in order by Princesa Carolina, Speedy Solution, Irish Willow, City Diva, Lightscameraaction, Zalia, Monkeys Uncle, Lucky Girasol and Espresso Shot.
Racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race program that begins at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Quotes from the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2)

Clickhere for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with the winning connections

Rusty Arnold (winning trainer of Concrete Rose)
On the filly stretching out to the 1/16 miles of today’s race, her first start since winning her career debut at 5½ furlongs in August at Saratoga
“We thought the sprint was too short. We thought two turns was what she wanted. When she won that day, we pointed to this race. We had almost two months to be ready.
“We are going to the Breeders’ Cup if everything’s right; that was the plan. My biggest concern here was getting in the race. We were worried all week about getting in, and when we did we were pretty relaxed.”
Jose Lezcano (winning rider)
“She broke very good. The leader (City Diva) tried to slow the pace down around the first turn. She (Concrete Rose) did it for me. She set up very good and when I asked her at the quarter pole, she went on to win the race.”
John Velazquez (rider of runner-up Pakhet)
“We had a good trip, and we saved a lot of ground going into the first turn. Going into the second turn, I was starting to follow Irad (Ortiz on favored Fierce Scarlett) in there, and she didn’t seem to run the turn very well. Then down the lane I kind of pulled her to the outside and she came running, so it was a good effort.”
Corey Lanerie (rider of third-place finisher Belle Laura)
“I came around everybody. I was coming but not super fast. But I was closing in. I thought I had a little chance to win and I just kept riding for a piece (of the purse).”
Norm Casse (trainer of Belle Laura)
“She ran really well. Our barn in general has been really unlucky with our post positions. When you have the outside post, it is almost impossible to win from out there. We decided to take back and make one big run. She was picking up horses down the lane and she looked really good. She has an exciting future. Maybe if she breezes well we will entertain the idea of the Breeders’ Cup.”

**********

Today is the 11th annual Make-a-Wish Day, which Keeneland presents in partnership with local Thoroughbred farms and organizations. Wish children and their families are treated to a VIP day at the races, complete with lunch, meeting jockeys in the Paddock, watching their sponsor’s race from the Winner’s Circle and presenting a trophy to the winning connections after each race.
Click here for more information.