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Justaroundmidnight produces well-timed charge in Marshua's River One race after guiding Little Mike (Spanish Steps) to a wire-to-wire upset in Sunday's Ft. Lauderdale S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, jockey Joe Bravo scored a quick double aboard the 26-1 JUSTAROUNDMIDNIGHT (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) in the $100,000 Marshua's River S. (G3). This time, however, Bravo showed his skills as a come-from-behind artist, galvanizing his mount from far back to corral the 36-1 pacesetter Persuading (Broken Vow) in the shadow of the post. Justaroundmidnight fueled mutuels of $54, $24.40 and $12.60. If the Ft. Lauderdale exotics were lucrative, the exotics in the Marshua's River were downright gaudy. The exacta paid $1,071.60, the trifecta totaled $21,515, and the 13-8-2-3 superfecta ballooned to $97,317.20. Owned by Mrs. Paul Shanahan, Justaroundmidnight was last seen finishing sixth in the June 26 Boiling Springs S. (G3) at Monmouth, but trainer Patrick Biancone had her ready to fire off the six-month layoff. The return wasn't supposed to come in the Marshua's River, though. Biancone planned for the filly to make her four-year-old bow in an allowance last Thursday. When she didn't draw in from the also-eligible list, the Marshua's River became Plan B. "She was going to run Thursday, but she didn't get in, so we ran her in here," Biancone said. "She's a very, very talented filly, but needs to stay covered up and sometimes they get into trouble with that style, which is what happened the last time she ran." Unhurried early on Sunday, Justaroundmidnight was still 10th of 12 after the six-furlong mark. Meanwhile, Persuading had commandeered the lead through fractions of :23 2/5, :47 1/5 and 1:10 3/5. Trip for A. J. (Trippi), who initially flashed speed before conceding the front-running role, was content to track in second. Wild Mia (Wildcat Heir) advanced from midpack into third in the latter stages of the backstretch, but she failed to sustain her smart progress in the drive. Although Trip for A. J. appeared poised to challenge Persuading at the top of the stretch, she could not draw any closer to the leader, who was still motoring through a mile in 1:34 1/5. Then Justaroundmidnight arrived on the scene with her explosive charge on the outside. Surging past in the final yards, she got up by a half-length in a final time of 1:40 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf. Persuading gave back $26.80 and $10 for her valiant effort. The runner-up checked in a half-length ahead of Never Retreat (Smart Strike), who was closing energetically and just grabbed third by a neck. Show was good for $7.40 at 8-1. Cherokee Queen (Cherokee Run), the 5-1 second choice, garnered fourth to cap the superfecta. Trip for A. J. was overwhelmed in deep stretch and wound up fifth. Wild Mia, Mary's Follies (More Than Ready), Quebrada Shiner (Arg) (Indygo Shiner), Street Gossip (Street Cry [Ire]), 3-2 favorite C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro), Kiss Mine (Mineshaft) and Sweetest Song (Unbridled's Song) completed the order of finish. Satans Quick Chick (Sky Mesa) and Ansong (Mizzen Mast) were withdrawn, along with the main-track-only Happy Week (Distorted Humor). Justaroundmidnight's first career stakes score improved her record to 8-2-2-0, $108,613. Originally based in Ireland with David Wachman, the dark bay was winless from five starts in 2009, with her best efforts being a pair of seconds in maidens at Leopardstown and Dundalk. Justaroundmidnight joined Biancone for her sophomore campaign in 2010. She broke her maiden in her American debut at Monmouth on June 13, and wheeled back 13 days later in the Boiling Springs, where she found traffic trouble before rallying for sixth. "This was a really good filly that broke her maiden at Monmouth Park," Bravo said. "In her next race, they ran her in a stakes and she was the best horse. I was stuck on the rail the whole race with no place to go. This is a good horse." Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd. in Ireland, Justaroundmidnight is out of the Machiavellian mare Strategy (GB), who was herself bred by The Queen. She comes from the same female line as Grade 1 hero Unknown Quantity (GB) (Young Generation) and German Group 2 victress Starlet (Teenoso), the latter the dam of French Group 2 scorer Interlude (Sadler's Wells). "I think she'll go up to a mile-and-eighth," Biancone said. "She has a huge turn of foot. We'll look at the book and find the right spot for her next."
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