Choisya Overcomes an Objection to Land the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland

The daughter of Night of Thunder, a standout during the Meydan International Carnival, secured her first top-level victory in style

Choisya, in a wide trip, achieved the most significant victory of her campaign / KEENELAND

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- The English-bred Choisya, a Rabbah Bloodstock standout, seized a perfect position throughout the race and took the lead at just the right moment, holding off a late charge from the favorite Excellent Truth (Cotai Glory) to claim victory in the 37th edition of the GI Jenny Wiley S. on Saturday at Keeneland. The race, contested over 1700 meters, offered a purse of $650,000 for fillies and mares aged 4 and up.

The daughter of Night of Thunder was urged on by Luis Sáez as they entered the stretch, slipping through along the rail to challenge front-runner Kehoe Beach (Omaha Beach). Once in the lead, she maintained a firm hold despite drifting slightly in the final 100 meters, forcing Excellent Truth to shift course. Flavien Prat, rider of the runner-up, lodged an objection, but the stewards dismissed the claim.

Sáez, who had suffered a spill in Tuesday's second race, commented: “I tried to forget what happened. I’m very grateful to be here, healthy, doing what I love. I feel good, strong, and I’m enjoying every moment.”

On the race itself, he explained: “She broke pretty well. She went to the front, but we knew the speed would come from the outside (Kehoe Beach), so we waited until the first turn and tucked in on the inside. It was exactly the position we wanted.”

Regarding the incident at the top of the stretch, Sáez said: “I knew I drifted a little, but I don’t think I interfered with the other mare (Excellent Truth). I stayed in my line. She ran a great race, and I’m very proud that trainer Simon Crisfordand Rabbah Bloodstock gave me the opportunity to win this G1 with this filly.”

Flavien Prat, rider of Excellent Truth, also shared his perspective on the race's final moments: “I was behind the winner, and as we came into the stretch, he (Luis Sáez, on Choisya) stayed tight along the rail, so I decided to go around him. I had a good gap, but when I moved between horses, that space closed, and I had to check. Even so, my filly came back strong.”

Making her debut at Keeneland and trained by Simon Crisford, who earned his first stakes victory at the track, Choisyaclocked a final time of 1:42.01 over good turf.

The winner had previously triumphed in the Cape Verdi S. (G2) and Balanchine S. (G2), the two premier races of the Meydan International Carnival in Dubai, UAE. Now, with a record of 20-8-5-0 and earnings of $709,462, her dam is Fragrancy (Singspiel).