Courtesy of the TDN
STARTED AT KIRKWOOD!
5th-Ellis, $60,000, Msw, 7-22, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:03.88, ft, 5 lengths.
JUSTA WARRIOR (f, 2, Justify–A Z Warrior {GISW, $286,906}, by Bernardini) capped off her worktab with a strong half-mile from the gate in :48 1/5 July 12 and was off as the 5-2 second choice to open her account at first asking. Away in good order from a middle gate, the $150,000 Keeneland September yearling took up a pace-pressing role to the outside, eased to the front with a furlong and a half to race and–despite a few swishes of her tail–pulled away to score by five emphatic lengths to become the fifth winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy).
A Z Warrior, the first-ever ‘TDN Rising Star’ for her sire, won the 2010 GI Frizette S. and was sold on for $1.25 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2011. A half-sister to fellow ‘Rising Stars’ Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile), E Z Warrior (Exploit) and J Z Warrior (Harlan’s Holiday), A Z Warrior is the dam of Cole Porter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), SP-Sin, $215,874, as well as the course-record setter in Japan Conch Pearl (American Pharoah). Her most recent produce include a yearling full-sister to Justa Warrior and a suckling colt by Uncle Mo. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. O-Stone Bridge Farm
B-Triemore Stud (KY)
T-John Alexander Ortiz