There’s no doubt that Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Untapable is the clear leader of the 3YOF division in North America. However, after her next start against fillies in the upcoming Mother Goose Stakes (G1) she may well take on the boys in the Haskell Invitational (G1) and/or Travers Stakes (G1). This would leave the door open for some other sophomore lasses to take down the summer Grade 1’s at Saratoga and Summertime Oaks (G2) winner Jojo Warrior is one of several nice fillies who could benefit from and absent Untapable.
Formerly known as the Hollywood Oaks, the Summertime Oaks was contested at 8.5F over the Santa Anita main track for the first time on Saturday, June 21. It was also the first two-turn race for the well-traveled Jojo Warrior. The Zayat Stables colorbearer made her first four starts from distances ranging from 5.5F to 7F at Del Mar, Oaklawn Park, Churchill Downs and Pimlico. She scored in her debut at Del Mar last September and picked up a couple of blacktype checks in Oaklawn Park’s Instant Racing Stakes and the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Her only off-the-board finish was a fifth-place run in a deep edition of the Eight Belles Stakes (G3) on Kentucky Oaks Day.
Trainer Bob Baffert put blinkers back on Jojo Warrior for her two-turn debut which may have helped her focus and harness her natural speed. Under Martin Garcia, JoJo Warrior went right to the front after the break in the Summertime Oaks and there was no catching her from there. The final margin of victory was 5 1/4 lengths.
The filly is the fourth stakes winner from 94 first crop foals by Pioneerof the Nile, a multiple Grade 1 winner by Empire Maker, who too raced in the powder blue and yellow Zayat Stables silks. Jojo Warrior is also the fourth stakes winner out of the mare Carson Jen, who now has to be considered a major contender for Broodmare of the Year honors. She’s already the dam of Bernardini’s first North American Grade 1 winner, 2010 Frizette Stakes (G1) victress A Z Warrior. Also to her credit is the graded stakes-winning juvenile E Z Warrior (by Exploit) and the four-time listed winner J Z Warrior (Harlan’s Holiday).
Behind Jojo Warrior on Saturday were a couple of other well-bred fillies. Runner-up Live for Now is by Tiznow out of the mare Turko’s Turn, making her a half-sister to 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given. Third-place finisher Front Range is a daughter of three-time leading sire Giant’s Causeway out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Lakeway. Lakeway, in fact, took the 1994 edition of Hollywood/Summertime Oaks when it was still rated a Grade 1.
Surprisingly, the Summertime Oaks is the last main track Graded stakes in Southern California for sophomore fillies. With this being the case we’ll likely see Jojo Warrior hit the road once again to Saratoga where Baffert will have the option of keeping her at two turns in races like the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1) or target Grade 1 sprints like the Prioress Stakes and Test Stakes. Much will likely depend on where Untapable ends up and Baffert and the Zayats are no doubt hoping that filly tries her mettle against the boy
Originally published on http://www.MyFantasyStable.com
Matt O'Neil Consulting 