Grade 2-winning speedster J Be K had his first winner as a sire on Thursday
when his first starter, the juvenile filly Baby J, posted a half-length score in
the
2ND race at Belmont Park. The bay miss was reluctant to load, but headed
straight to the front once the gates opened. With Eddie Castro in the irons, the
bay filly ran 5 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:04 for trainer Michelle
Nihei to take her career debut.
Baby J is out of the winning Rubiano mare Lavender Baby, making her a
half-sister to stakes victor and Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes third Laureate
Conductor as well as the stakes-placed Que Posse.
J Be K romped in his initial two starts, but couldn’t factor when stretched
out to make his stakes bow in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at 1 1/16 miles.
Trainer Steve Asmussen learned his lesson and reverted his charge back to
sprints, resulting in an five-length victory in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes.
Following a second in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at a mile, J Be K was given a
brief break before returning to add the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and Grade 3
Jersey Shore Stakes to his resume.
J Be K ran off-the-board in his final two starts and was eventually retired
in the fall of 2008 to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Two years later
he was transferred to Vinery near Summerfield, Florida, and then finally to
Trophy Club Training Center near Royal, Arkansas, where he currently stands for
a live foal fee of $2,000.
J Be K is out of the Grade 2-placed Valid Wager mare Major Wager, who is a
half-sister to Grade 3 scorer Atoned. The dark bay seven-year-old, who retired
with a 9-5-1-0 mark and $440,200 in lifetime earnings, comes from the same
female family as multiple Grade 2 queen Wonders Delight.
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