NYRA/Adam Coglianese
by Bill Heller
Thanks to a fine-timed rally from last under Manuel Franco, Shooting Star Stable’s Jc’s Shooting Star edged Conquest Superstep by a head, breaking her maiden in the second running of the mile-and-an-eighth $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes for three-year-old New York-breds Friday at Saratoga on Showcase Day.
Sent off at 18-1 in the field of five, Jc’s Shooting Star won in 1:51.39. Though she was zero-for-six, Jc’s Shooting Star had finished fifth in the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park and a distant second in the $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes. Then she finished fifth and second in a pair of New York-bred maiden grass races.
So how exactly did J’s Shooting Star wind up in a $200,000 stakes? “The owner,” trainer David Donk said. “I give him all the credit. It was only a field of five. I was hoping to get third. I honestly didn’t know if she could beat a couple of these fillies.”
Well, she did.
Jc’s Shooting Star is a daughter of Miracle Man out of American Passage by Quiet American who was bred by Miracle Man Racing Partners. She made her debut at Aqueduct April 11th, finishing second by a length and a quarter. She was second again in a maiden race at Belmont Park before trying stakes company twice.
On Friday, she was last early as 30-1 Congaroo led and 7-2 Freudie Anne and 9-5 Conquest Superstep chased in second and third through a quarter in :23.58 and a half-mile in :47.00. Temper Mint Patty, the 4-5 favorite on the rail under John Velazquez, raced in fourth
Freudie Anne, who won the $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes on grass here in her previous start, took over the front end after three-quarters in 1:11.52 and Conquest Superstep moved into second.
Conquest Superstep took on Freudie Anne around the far turn as Jc’s Shooting Star rallied strongly on their outside. After a mile in 1:37.63, Jc’s Shooting Star advanced into second and went after Conquest Superstep. They separated themselves from the others, battling head-to-head for the final sixteenth of a mile. Just before the wire, Jc’s Shooting Star stuck her head in front.
Temper Mint Patty finished third, 2 ¾ lengths behind Conquest Superstep. Freudie Anne was a distant fourth. [VIDEO]
Donk briefly left the winner’s circle before the trophy presentation to go back on the track, pick up a hose and cool off his newest stakes winner himself. Then he credited Franco, who missed part of the meet after being bruised from a gruesome accident. “He gave her a great ride,” Donk said.
Franco, who had ridden Jc’s Shooting Star in three of her previous six starts, was thankful for the opportunity. “It’s a blessing,” he said.
Jc’s Shooting Star now has a win and three seconds from five dirt starts and a second from two turf tries for combined earnings of just under $180,000.
