Jazzy Steps Out in Gallant Bloom

Jazzy made her debut on dirt an impressive one Sept. 22 at Belmont Park, prevailing by three-quarters of a length after a long drive in the $147,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares.

Since making her U.S. debut in July, the Mark Hennig trainee Jazzy had a pair of narrow decisions in stakes while sprinting on the grass, losing her first by a nose and winning her most recent by a neck Aug. 22 at Saratoga. She earned her first graded stakes victory.

The Argentine-bred 5-year-old Mutakddim mare scored her most comfortable U.S. win yet in the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom, which attracted a small field of five.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Jazzy raced with the pacesetters Great Intentions and Pussycat Doll while three wide and kept the pressure on through the lane, eventually pulling away from the closing Cuaba to win in determined fashion. The final time was 1:16 3/5.

Great Intentions and jockey Javier Castellano broke from the rail and took the lead over Pussycat Doll and Jazzy through fractions of :22.55 and :45.66.

Pussycat Doll, a three-time grade I winner ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, headed Great Intentions in upper stretch but faltered in the final furlong as the game Jazzy wore her down on the outside. Favored Cuaba and Kent Desormeaux came with a late run four wide but could not get to Jazzy. Pussycat Doll settled for third, a half-length behind the runner-up, with Great Intentions and Princess Janie trailing.

Jazzy lost by a nose at Monmouth Park in her first American start and then won Saratoga’s Capades by a neck over Stormy Kiss. Now owned by Team Valor Stables, Des Scott and Robert Muir, the bay began her career in South Africa. She has five victories in 10 lifetime starts and her winning share in the Gallant Bloom, $90,000, increased her earnings to $186,716.

“She’s a neat little horse,” Hennig said. “She had trained well going into it, and I know Garrett had a lot of confidence off the break. She was right in the bridle and handling everything pretty good. The race didn’t quite unfold the way we thought it would. Garrett thought the speed would be to the outside, but it turned out to be to his inside. She got a good trip because of it.”

That good trip could mean that her next start will be in the inaugural $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at six furlongs Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park.

“She broke good and sat in the garden spot,” Gomez said. “I wanted to give her a chance to see if she would take to the dirt. Mark seemed to think so, as she had trained well over it. She finished up strong enough to get there. It was a good effort first time on the dirt.”

Sent off as the second choice in the evenly matched field, Jazzy paid $7.80, $3.60 and $2.50.

Cuaba ($3.50, $2.20), a distant fourth in Saratoga’s Classy Mirage on Aug. 27, rebounded with a better effort. 

“She was off the pace a little today and finished willingly,” said trainer Bill Mott.

Pussycat Doll ($2.70) suffered her fifth consecutive defeat since winning the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita in January for trainer Bob Baffert.

(Chart, Equibase)