Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
But when you have a “back-up” plan as speedy as Jewel of the Ocean it can mitigate a lot of disappointment, including the late vet scratch of Mia’s Crusade.
Given a master-class front-end ride by jockey Charlie Marquez, Jewel of the Ocean went gate to wire in the one-mile grass race for Jersey-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, having plenty in reserve for a three-quarters length victory over Summer’s Comin after setting moderate fractions throughout.
It marked the first stakes win for the 4-year-old daughter of Sea Wizard, who is owned by Prancing Horse Farm (Joe and Gayle Ioia).
The winning time for the eight furlongs over a firm turf course was 1:37.16.
“I was actually hoping this race came off the grass because I told Joe (Ioia) he could bet his mansion on her, that she would go wire to wire on the dirt,” said Spina. “She did that on the turf instead. The one turf race she ran before this was the last day of the meet last year (finishing sixth). But as soon as she broke out of the gate the way she did today I knew it was over.
“She’s a fast horse. She barely got beat (one length) in the Spruce Fir Handicap last time out. The modest fractions were exactly what we wanted, too.”
Marquez essentially put the field to sleep with front end fractions of :24.14, :49.05 and 1:12.70 for six furlongs. Favorite Riding Pretty was never able to get into the race because of that, finishing fourth.
“The game plan was to break out of there with intention and then slow it down the best I could. It went exactly as we hoped it would,” said Marquez. “I could tell the way she was travelling that she was comfortable and we were going moderately. The way we were going she was well within herself.
“She broke with so much speed on the dirt in her last race so on the grass going long there was no question she was going to be that sharp. It was just a matter of whether someone else would go with us and hook us. Luckily we were able to break out of there in the first two jumps and establish the lead right away.”
Eazy Whirled, also owned by Prancing Horse Farm but trained by Sergio Rabadan, finished third, a half-length behind Summer’s Comin, who won the Spruce Fir by a length in gate to wire fashion in her last start. But she took a quick right turn out of the gate that compromised her chances to make the lead.
Jewel of the Ocean paid $10.80 to win in the field of seven, reduced by two scratches.
“I’m extremely disappointed that Mia’s Crusade was a vet scratch. She would have run good, too,” said Spina.
Though Jewel of the Ocean earned $111,200 from six starts last year, there was uncertainty about whether she would take to the turf. That uncertainty is gone now after she posted her third win (with three seconds) from eight career starts.
“The one time she ran on the turf she didn’t love it but she didn’t hate it,” said Spina. “Now we know she likes turf as well.”