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Neal M. Allread’s 6-year-old mare Clean Jean, named Finger Lakes’ horse of the meet in 2012 when she won 8 of 15 starts, won her first stakes victory on Saturday in the $50,000 Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares run at a mile and one-sixteenth at Finger Lakes.
Claimed by Jeremiah Englehart for $20,000 in May, Clean Jean romped first out for her new connections, winning a route by 9 3/4 lengths on June 7 under Wilfredo Rohena. Reunited with the same partner, and drawn in post seven the bulky field of ten, she was bet down to second choice at odds of 2.15-1, narrowly edged at the windows by multiple stakes winning Belmont shipper Miss Da Point (2.05-1).
Forwardly placed after the break and negotiating the clubhouse turn two wide, Clean Jean settled in fourth along the backstretch as Nicole’s Miss El led the field through snappy opening fractions of 23.42 and 46.82 while being tracked by Miss Da Point and Smitten by Gold.
Moving up into third as the field entered the far turn, Clean Jean drew even with the vanguard mid-turn and struck the lead at the top of the lane.
Opening up, and kept to her task as the closers advanced in the final furlong, Clean Jean hit wire a 2 1/2-length winner without having to face a serious challenge. A rallying Capella Dancer finished second, a head in front of Little Rocket who closed from last. Next across the finish line were: Color Blind, Senora Dubai, Floating Alone, Miss Da Point, Mom’s Law, Nicole’s Miss El and Smitten by Gold. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:47.03. [VIDEO]
A daughter of Ecton Park, Clean Jean made headlines nationally in 2012 when she finished the year in a three-way tie for most wins with ten victories. Previously in stakes competition, she placed in both the 2012 Susan B. Anthony and 2012 Jack Betta Be Rite. Her record now stands at 15-3-5 from 40 starts with $231,795 in earnings.
Clean Jean was bred by Fran Ubbink, who named her in an affectionate tribute to her mother, who, as she reported, was always very careful each week to make sure the house was immaculate before the arrival of the cleaning lady.
Clean Jean is one of two winners out of Easter Buddy, a winning daughter of Buddy, who currently has a 2-year-old gelding and a yearling filly both by Stonesider, named Eastern Grant and Lookn Mighty Fancy, respectively, and a weanling colt this year by Pomeroy.
