Sweet victory in Honeybee for Just Jenda

Last updated: 3/15/09 8:12 PM

Just Jenda got back on the winning track
(Kurtis Coady/Coady Photography)

Cindy Jones’ JUST JENDA (Menifee) saved ground along the inside during
Sunday’s $100,000
Honeybee
S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park, vied around the turn while splitting rivals and
pulled off to record a three-length victory with Gabriel Saez aboard.

Just Jenda settled into a stalking spot just back and outside of Bon Jovi
Girl (Malibu Moon) as that one went on to set the pace through easy fractions of
:25 1/5, :49 3/5 and 1:14 1/5. Saez gave her the cue entering the turn, and Just
Jenda responded, moving up alongside of Bon Jovi Girl. The eventual winner
lengthened her advantage in the lane, finishing up 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt
in 1:45 4/5.

Just Jenda was worth $8.40, $4.60 and $2.40 as the 3-1 third pick while
keying the $44.60 exacta and $160.20 trifecta (4-2-7). Afleet Deceit (Northern
Afleet) closed with a rush from the back to take second by a half-length, giving
back $7 and $3.60 as the near 7-1 fifth choice. Bon Jovi Girl held third by a
half-length over Be Fair (Exchange Rate) to pay $2.40 as the 8-5 favorite. Peach
Brew (Milwaukee Brew), My Spanx (A. P. Delta) and Hightap (Tapit) completed the
order under the wire.

Trained by Larry Jones, husband to Cindy, Just Jenda earned a measure of
redemption with this score following a well-beaten third in the Silverbulletday
S. (G3) last out. The chestnut lass scored an easy 1 3/4-length decision in the
Tiffany Lass S. prior to that one, and was a nine-length victress of the
Brandywine S. following her 6 3/4-length debut maiden win last season. She
closed out her juvenile campaign with a fifth in the Delta Princess S. (G3), her
only off-the-board finish to date, and has racked up $205,400 in earnings to go
along with her 6-4-0-1 record.

Bred in Kentucky by Lavin Bloodstock Services, Just Jenda was a Keeneland
September RNA at $37,000 in 2007. She is out of the stakes-placed Liberty School
(Pine Bluff), who also has an unnamed yearling filly by Five Star Day, and comes
from the same family as 1986 Blue Grass S. (G1) hero Bachelor Beau (Raised
Socially).