Jenda is Just too good in Monmouth Oaks

Just Jenda once again outclassed her Monmouth rivals (Ryan Denver/Equi-Photo) Cindy Jones’ JUST JENDA (Menifee) took command in the stretch of Saturday’s $200,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3) and drew off under jockey Gabriel Saez to record an easy 4 1/4-length victory for trainer Larry Jones. Sent off the 3-5 favorite against nine rivals, the chestnut lass pulled away from her competition to stop the clock in 1:43 3/5 over the fast main track, paying $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10 to her faithful supporters. Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon), seeking her first stakes triumph following runner-up finishes in the Delaware Oaks (G2) and Mother Goose S. (G1) in her prior two, angled over from her 9 post and proceeded to lead the field down the backstretch. Setting splits of :24, :48 3/5 and 1:12 4/5, the bay filly was closely tracked on her outside by Hightap (Tapit), while Saez and Just Jenda were even farther out while running in tandem with Sea Wind (Northern Afleet). That one began to back up nearing the turn, leaving Just Jenda in sole possession of the third spot. That didn’t last long, though, as the three-year-old miss began her run entering the stretch. Overhauling the still dueling Malibu Prayer and Hightap, Just Jenda opened up to secure a second straight stakes score following her 8 1/4-length victory over the track in the July 19 Serena’s Song S.

Malibu Prayer managed to get the best of Hightap by a half-length on the
line, earning her third straight runner-up finish and returning $4 and $2.60 as
the 7-2 second pick. Hightap was worth $2.80 at 5-1, and the exotics totaled $14
(exacta), $43.40 (trifecta) and $251.20 (3-9-2-8 superfecta). Missunitednations (Peace
Rules) got up to take fourth another eight lengths back, and was followed under
the line by Sweet Relish (Smoke Glacken), Sea Wind, Bandora (Dixieland Band),
Renda (Medaglia d’Oro), Stage Trick (Distorted Humor) and Oro Blanco (Hold For
Gold).

In addition to the Serena’s Song, Just Jenda has captured the Honeybee S.
(G3) and Tiffany Lass S. this season, and the Brandywine S. as a juvenile. Her
three placings have all come this year in the Eight Belles S. (G3), Fantasy S.
(G2) and Silverbulletday S. (G3), and her line now reads 10-6-1-2, $414,380.

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 a 2009
colt by Strong Hope. Liberty School is herself a half-sister to Seeking Regina
(Seeking the Gold), winner of the 1994 Adirondack S. (G2) and dam of Grade 3
victress Seeking the Sky (Storm Cat), 2000 Spinaway S. (G1) third Seeking It All
(A.P. Indy) and Grade 2 runner-up Seeking the Money (Capote). This is the same
family as 1986 Blue Grass S. (G1) hero Bachelor Beau (Raised Socially).