The oldest progeny of Triple Crown winning sire Justify (USA) are just three year-olds and the Coolmore shuttler posted his 20th stakes-winner worldwide in North America when progressive two year-old filly Buchu won the $350,000 Group II Jessamine Stakes (1 and 1/16th m) at Keeneland in Kentucky.
A homebred for Rigney Racing, the Phillip Bauer trained filly settled back in the field and charged to the line to win by three and three-quarter lengths taking her overall record to two wins and two placings from five starts.
“I think sometimes horses for courses, so maybe riders for horses,” said Phil Bauer in regards to winning rider Martin Garcia.
“He really gets a lot of credit for developing this filly. He got her from three-eighths all the way forward and he decided to keep his tack in Kentucky, so when we went to New York, [jockey] Tyler [Gaffalione] jumped aboard.
“Mother Nature got in our way with the first start and then a troubled trip in the second one up there with Tyler. He didn’t do anything wrong, but he was out of town when she ran back and we knew Martin loved her, so he hopped back aboard for her last breeze before her maiden win [at Churchill Downs Sept. 23], and we were confident going into that, as we were a few others, but in racing you need some luck to go with you.
“I’m just overwhelmed and really happy for Mr. Rigney, now with one that he bred. Cue the Mamas and the Papas, we’re ‘California Dreamin.'.”
The Jessamine Stakes was a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita next month.
Buchu is the first winner for Flowering Peach, a winning Galileo sister to Group III winner First Minister from Group III winner Naples Bay, a half-sister to champion sire Medaglia D’Oro.
Buchu is the 20th stakes-winner for Justify, who is back in Australia this spring at a fee of $77,000.
