In 11 starts over three seasons, classic-winning four-year-old filly Just the
Judge has proven her class against some of the best Europe has to offer,
including a sharp victory in the 2013 Irish One Thousand Guineas and a runner-up
performance in that race’s English counterpart. The daughter of French Derby
winner Lawman enters Saturday’s $750,000 Beverly D. at
Arlington after a
useful third in the Pretty Polly at The Curragh behind highly regarded Thistle
Bird — a performance that hinted she may be slowly coming back to the excellent
form she showed in her sophomore season.
“She’s good and looks really well after the trip over,” Geoff Snook,
traveling head lad for trainer Charlie Hills, confidently expressed. “She was
really ready to come out and do something this morning. She just stretched her
legs and had a look. She can be a bit spritely when she’s in a new space on her
own, so we had the pony go with her.”
Owned by Qatar Racing and the Sangster Family, the earner of $556,286 will
once again have the riding services of Jamie Spencer, who has ridden the charge
in her last eight races and is the retained rider of the Qatar Racing. The
Beverly D. looks to be one of the saltiest renewals in its 25 years, with six
Grade or Group 1 winners. Still, Snook was no less satisfied with what he saw on
the Arlington turf Tuesday morning.
“She looked great this morning. It’s the best she’s moved,” he continued.
“She’s possibly better than before the Pretty Polly.”
Though the bay filly won her banner race at a mile, her connections look
forward to the longer 1 3/16 miles of Saturday’s marquee filly and mare turf
event.
“I think she wants a mile and a quarter, now, as opposed to when she won over
a mile in the Guineas last year,” Snook said. “I think she wants that little bit
extra as she’s gotten older.”
This year’s edition of the Beverly D. also looks to have a variety of running
styles throughout, including what could be a strong pace. A mid-pack runner,
Just the Judge may benefit from such.
“I think she needs a decent early gallop,” Snook said. “I also think she
needs more juice in the ground. Her two-year-old form was more on softer ground.
I think the it allows her to let down (her stride) easier, plus it probably
takes some of the finishing speed off the faster-finishing horses, as well. If
it’s ‘proper good’ ground, it’ll be ideal.”
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