Jouster impresses at Keeneland for Frankel's brother
Lanes End-based Noble Mission (Galileo) sired his third stakes winner when Jouster (3 f ex Playtime by Street Cry) led throughout the win the Appalachian Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) at Keeneland on Saturday.
The Todd Pletcher-trained filly was taken straight to the front by jockey Luis Saez, taking the small field along at a good speed. She stretched the field approaching the home turn and showed a good turn of foot from the front end to draw away in the straight before being eased laste to win by one and half lengths over Gift List (Bated Breath) with a further half a length back to Plum Ali (First Samurai) in third.
"She was so professional today, she broke from there so sharp," said Saez to the Bloodhorse. "We just tried to relax and she did it so perfect. She came into the stretch and I had so much horse so I was just letting her be happy and we came to the end—she just took off. She's good."
Jouster was a US$360,000 purchase from the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale by Chris Brothers for her owners Starlight Racing. She is the first foal out of Playtime, a placed daughter of champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat). Noble Mission’s stakes winners are led by multiple Grade One winner Code Of Honor with his other stakes winner being the Group 2 winner Spanish Mission. He is represented in Australia by Group 1 placed Buffalo River.
Noble Mission relocated to Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan for the 2021 breeding season having begun his stud career at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky where he stood for a fee of US$20,000 in 2020.
