Jenda just smashing in Molly Pitcher finale

Longshot Stage Trick (Distorted Humor) hustled to grab the early lead from

Malibu Prayer, who was content to track in second through splits of :23 3/5 and

:47 3/5. In the next flight came the rail-hugging Just Jenda, virtually in

tandem with Queen Martha. Canadian shipper Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew)

raced in the rear of the five-horse field, which was reduced by the withdrawal

of Unforgotten (Northern Afleet).

Malibu Prayer began to turn up the pressure on Stage Trick nearing the far

turn, and the odds-on favorite had already taken control when reaching six

furlongs in 1:11 3/5. In the meantime, Just Jenda had been angled out by regular

rider Terry Thompson, and she was poised right off Malibu Prayer's flank turning

for home. Just Jenda overhauled her rival at the top of the stretch and bounded

clear to complete 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 2/5 on the fast track. The winner

returned $8, $3 and $2.20 while starting the $16 exacta and $41.20 trifecta

(3-1-6).

"When she works fast, she runs fast," Cindy Jones said. "She went :58 and

four at Delaware the other day (on Tuesday). She was on top of her game and the

race just worked out perfectly. She didn't have to chase the speed today, but

could sit back and relax. This was a real tough field, and we couldn't be more

proud of her."

Malibu Prayer kept second by two lengths from the rallying Milwaukee Appeal,

paying $2.40 and $2.10. The third-placer gave back $2.80 at 7-1. Queen Martha,

who had come under a ride a long way out, steadily retreated and crossed the

wire another 11 1/4 lengths astern in fourth, beating only Stage Trick.

Just Jenda is now four-for-five at Monmouth, with her previous victories

coming in last year's Monmouth Oaks (G3) and Serena's Song S. as well as the May

30 Monmouth Beach S. As a three-year-old, the chestnut captured the 2009

Honeybee S. (G3) at Oaklawn and Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds, and placed in

the Fantasy S. (G2), Eight Belles S. (G3) and Silverbulletday S. (G3). Her

resume also includes a score in the 2008 Brandywine S. at Philadelphia Park as a

juvenile. With this seventh career stakes coup, Just Jenda signs off with a

17-8-1-3 line and $750,680 in earnings.

Bred by Lavin Bloodstock Services in Kentucky, Just Jenda failed to reach her

reserve when bringing a $37,000 bid as a Keeneland September yearling. She is

out of the stakes-placed Liberty School (Pine Bluff), who has since produced an

unraced juvenile filly named Exploremore (Five Star Day), an unnamed yearling

colt by Strong Hope and a 2010 colt by Mizzen Mast.

Liberty School is a half-sister three stakes-winning stakes producers --

Grade 2 heroine Seeking Regina (Seeking the Gold), the dam of Grade 3 victress

Seeking the Sky (Storm Cat) and the Grade 2-placed pair of Seeking It All (A.P.

Indy) and Seeking the Money (Capote); Grade 3-placed stakes winner Tutorial

(Forty Niner), the dam of 2009 Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) scorer, Dixie

Band (Dixie Union); and finally, stakes winner Oxford Scholar (Seeking the

Gold), the dam of stakes winners Smokin Forest (Forestry) and Scholastic Giant

(Giant's Causeway) and the Grade 3-placed Turnbolt (Deputy Minister). This is

the family of Bachelor Beau (Raised Socially), successful in the 1986 Blue Grass

S. (G1).

Plans call for Just Jenda to begin her new career by visiting Proud Citizen

next year. The choice of stallion is fitting, considering that Proud Citizen

sired Proud Spell, whom Larry Jones trained to champion three-year-old filly

honors in 2008. Brereton Jones, the owner/breeder of Proud Spell, stands Proud

Citizen at his Airdrie Farm near Midway, Kentucky.