Zinzay tops Jessamine cast

The Rusty Arnold-trained Zinzay, who exceeded expectations when winning first

time out at Saratoga, aims to build on that auspicious debut in Wednesday's

Grade 3, $150,000

Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland. The blueblood daughter of Smart Strike has

been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for this final "Win and You're

In" event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

A $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida purchase back in March, Zinzay comes from the

immediate family of Grade/Group 1 turf star Musical Chimes as well as five-time

Grade 1 winner Music Note. In light of Arnold's patient approach to developing

his youngsters, she was ignored at 19-1 in her unveiling at the Spa on August

25. But Zinzay belied those odds with a determined victory by a neck. With that

experience under her belt, going this same 1 1/16-mile distance on turf, Zinzay

is eligible to improve markedly with a returning Joe Rocco Jr.

Trainer Chad Brown, who swept Sunday's Pilgrim and Miss Grillo at Belmont

with Bobby's Kitten and Testa Rossi, respectively, sends out a major contender

here in Kitten Kaboodle. Unlucky to remain a maiden after two starts for Wayne

Catalano, Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred ran well in defeat over Saratoga's

notoriously speed-favoring course. She rallied from seventh, despite trouble, to

finish second in her July 22 debut. Hammered into even-money favoritism next

time out on August 18, Kitten Kaboodle stumbled after the start and couldn't

catch Candy Kitty. Kitten Kaboodle promises to be another smart performer for

her sire Kitten's Joy, and hopes for a breakthrough in her first outing for

Brown.

Candy Kitty, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, took three tries to break her

maiden for Todd Pletcher. Runner-up in her premiere sprinting five furlongs on

the Belmont Park dirt in June, she stretched out and switched to turf at

Saratoga. Candy Kitty was beaten by Kitten Kaboodle in the aforementioned maiden

in July, but gained revenge with a front-running score in August. Wheeling back

only 10 days later for the August 28 P.G. Johnson, Candy Kitty faded to fifth,

but should do better with a more typical turn-around time on Wednesday. Hall of

Famer John Velazquez retains the mount.

Courtesan is another Saratoga maiden winner lining up in the Jessamine. The

Christophe Clement pupil was a poor third in her off-the-turf debut in the slop,

but was much happier on the lawn September 1, rallying from just off the pace to

defeat the more experienced Ketel Twist. That consistent rival has since come

back to win at Belmont, and Courtesan has been pegged at an enticing 8-1 on the

morning line.

Academic Probation went last to first in her debut on the Churchill Downs

turf September 22. By freshman sire Einstein, the gray uncorked a bold, six-wide

move to get up in time. She has since left Kellyn Gorder for Sally Schu, but

keeps Corey Lanerie in the saddle.

Richies Party Girl is the best-traveled entrant. The Wesley Ward runner

shipped to France for the August 17 Prix du Calvados, winding up fourth in a

salty field. But Richies Party Girl is two-for-two on the U.S. turf, with

wire-to-wire victories in a July 4 maiden at Belmont and a September 7 allowance

at Churchill. Making her two-turn debut in the latter, she just lasted by a nose

from the closing Runway Giant, and must try to fend off the same opponent over

an extra sixteenth here. Runway Giant, a good-looking maiden winner at Ellis

Park two back, should profit with the added ground, as a daughter of Giant's

Causeway.

An early pace factor, Richies Party Girl is likely to hook up with two other

speedy fillies -- Zip On and Pretty Fancy -- who both exit maiden scores at

Kentucky Downs. Zip On was prevailing in her fourth attempt for Randy Morse,

while Pretty Fancy was winning second time out for Arnold. Pretty Fancy must

move forward, however, to surpass Zinzay in her barn's pecking order.

Shanon Nicole likewise broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs last out. The Mike

Maker filly had gotten off to poor starts in her first two attempts, but made no

mistake in her third outing and could keep progressing.

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