Jessamine Stakes 2024 Analysis

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 2, $350,000 Jessamine Stakes will be run at Keeneland on Friday, October 4, 2024, and this is Win & You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. This turf route drew twelve entrants plus four also-eligibles, and impressive Kentucky Downs debut winner Destino d’Oro is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The Jessamine goes as the eighth race on opening day of the fall meet with a scheduled post time of 4:44 p.m. EDT.

Jessamine Stakes Analysis

#1 Shezafunkydrummer (8-1) won her first two dirt sprints, and she switched to turf, set the pace, and was caught late in a decent effort in the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8. Larry Rivelli is a sharp trainer and she might set the pace from the inside post.

#2 Isle of Capri (9-2) was the favorite in her turf sprint bow at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 11 and she made the lead and kept on going in a smart victory by 4 lengths. Brendan Walsh has good stats with his second grass starters and she should impact the pace under Tyler Gaffalione. 

#3 Sashay Away (20-1) stalked and scored in her turf route bow at 17-1 odds at Ellis Park on July 21, and broke slow and was an even 5th of 12 in a stakes race at Kentucky Downs second time out. The daughter of Curlin needs to run faster to compete with these.

#4 Somethinabouther (20-1) switched to a turf route second time out and graduated by a neck from post 12 at Ellis Park, and split a 12-horse field from an outer post in a stakes race at Kentucky Downs last time. She gets a better post this time.

#5 Mechaya (15-1) wired the field in her turf sprint debut at Kentucky Downs. She will probably be forwardly placed.

#6 Destino d’Oro (3-1) was 8-1 in her Kentucky Downs bow and she rallied from off the pace and was clearly best on Aug. 31, and the show finisher was a next-out winner. Flavien Prat stays put and he has been winning races with Brad Cox recently. This barn shows a profit with graduates trying winners for the first time and the $185k purchase had a decent local work on Sept. 30. I was a fan of his sire Bolt d’Oro.

#7 Ballerina d’Oro (8-1) was 7-2 in her turf route bow and she finished up the track at Saratoga that day. She shipped to Kentucky Downs and rallied from post 10 to get up by a neck second time out on Sept. 8.

#8 May Day Ready (8-1) rallied to win both turf routes under Frankie Dettori including a stakes score at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8. She ran slightly faster second time out.  

#9 Totally Justified (6-1) moved to turf and broke her maiden in the P. G. Johnson Stakes on Aug. 28. She pressed slow fractions and held off Chad Brown’s late running filly Virgin Colada. The pace will be quicker this time.

#10 Italian Soiree (20-1) was an even fourth in the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine last time. The $600k Uncle Mo filly removes blinkers and Luis Saez is her new rider.

#11 Miss Lonelle (15-1) stretches out after two turf sprints. She missed by a head in her debut and rallied for the win second time out. She landed a tough post.

#12 Correto (8-1) was entered last weekend in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct but that race was cancelled due to inclement weather. She looked good winning her Kentucky Downs turf bow from post 10 at seven panels for Graham Motion. She is bred to go this far and will try to overcome the outside post. 

Also-eligibles: #13 Give Life (20-1), #14 She’s Got Will (8-1), #15 Virgin Colada (9-2), #16 Daisy Flyer (20-1)

Jessamine Stakes Video