“Just F Y I” Shines in Prep Work

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“Just F Y I” Shines in Prep Work Ahead of $500,000 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga

The upcoming Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga promises to be a must-see event for those who bet on horses.  Just F Y I, the reigning 2-year-old filly champion, has been showcasing her readiness with impressive back-to-back bullet works. 

On Friday morning, Just F Y I worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 over the Oklahoma training track, with Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch noting her last quarter in 24.40 seconds, the fastest of 11 works at that distance. Previously, she recorded a half-mile in 47.00 seconds on May 20, leading the 22 drills of that day.

Trainer Bill Mott is confident in Just F Y I’s form for this and upcoming graded stakes, praising exercise rider Brittany Troxtell for letting her finish strong in her workouts. “To go 1:01-and-one on this track is pretty good and [Troxtell] said she felt like she had a lot left,” Mott remarked. 

This preparation comes after Just F Y I had to scratch from the Davona Dale at Gulfstream in March due to a fever and only had one start before the Kentucky Oaks, finishing second to Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

Race Details

The Acorn Stakes, to be run at the Kentucky Oaks distance of 1 1/8 miles, is set to draw a competitive field. Thorpedo Anna, who was to work on Saturday at Saratoga, is a major contender. Trainer Kenny McPeek was also considering her for the Belmont Stakes, contingent on whether Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, also trained by McPeek, participates in that race with significant Belmont Stakes odds. 

Thorpedo Anna aims to follow in the footsteps of Pretty Mischievous, who last achieved the Kentucky Oaks-Acorn double in 2023.

Other expected runners for the Acorn include Leslie’s Rose and Candied, who finished first and fourth respectively in the Ashland, Black-Eyed Susan winner Gun Song, Becky’s Joker, My Mane Squeeze, Regulatory Risk, and Where’s My Ring. 

On Friday, Leslie’s Rose and Candied worked a half-mile together in 49.02 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. Welsch timed their last quarter in 24.23 seconds and their gallop-outs at five furlongs in 1:01.88 and six furlongs in 1:14.58.

Trainer Todd Pletcher remarked on their performance, saying, “I thought they went well. They were both strong coming to the wire, very good gallop-outs, thought it was an excellent move from both fillies.” 

Leslie’s Rose, who finished 13th in the Kentucky Oaks on a sloppy track, may be scratched if the Saratoga main track is similarly affected. Candied, who finished fourth in the Ashland and was left one spot out of the Kentucky Oaks, would have been scratched due to a bruised foot had she drawn into the race.

Gun Song, another strong contender, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds over the Belmont training track on Friday. She worked together with long-distance turf runner Harry Hood. Trainer Mark Hennig mentioned, “We got what we wanted. We’ll see how she bounced out of it. As of now, we’re heading that way.”