J'ray closes for Tropical Park Oaks win

J'Ray remains unbeaten in four tries on the turf  (Calder Race Course)

Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, the leaders of their

respective divisions in 2005, continued their success into the new year as Lawrence Goichman's J'RAY

(Distant View) captured her fourth consecutive victory Sunday

when the newly turned three-year-old filly annexed the $100,000

Tropical Park Oaks at Calder Race Course.

Velazquez settled J'ray just off the pace dictated by Stolen Prayer

(Songandaprayer), who broke to an early and uncontested lead along the rail,

setting fractions of :23 1/5,

:47 1/5, 1:11 1/5 and 1:34 4/5. Running well within herself and seemingly full

of energy, Stolen Prayer set sail for home in the stretch. Just when it looked

like no one would catch her, J'ray, who had been gradually drawing herself nearer

to the leader, was edged to the outside and rallied to snatch the

win by a length, completing 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:40 4/5.

"She had a perfect trip today," said Pletcher. "The way this course has been playing, you don't want to be too far back early. There isn't much for her for

the first six weeks at Gulfstream, so we'll probably take the opportunity to

give her a little break."

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, J'ray returned $3, $2.40 and $2.10 while Stolen

Prayer gave back $4 and $2.40 at 7-1. Nice Nelly (Seattle Slew), who tracked in fifth

for most of the contest, got up for the show at 5-1, paying $2.40. My

Interpretation (Freud), Nottawasaga (Deputy Minister), Warrior Girl (War Chant),

Philanthropy Lady (Desert Style), Fluorescent (Anees) and Mia's Reflection

(Halo's Image) rounded out the order of finish. Categorize (Menifee), Capozzene

(Capote) and Christmas Stocking (Ops Smile) were scratched from the race.

J'ray is out of the winning mare Bubbling Heights (Fr) (Darshaan), who is a

close relative of 1993 Horse of the Year Kotashaan (Fr). This is also the family

of 2004 Appleton H. (G3) winner and Manhattan H. (G1) runner-up Millennium

Dragon. Bubbling Heights has

produced an unnamed two-year-old filly by Bahri as well as an unnamed yearling

colt by Street Cry (Ire).