Justique installed as 4-5 Santa Ynez favorite

A John Shirreffs filly shows a blistering late kick to go from last to first, overwhelming her opponents. That description might make you think of Hall of Famer Zenyatta, but lately, it also fits Justique, who looms as the 4-5 favorite in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. 

From the first crop of 2018 Triple Crown star Justify, Justique captured the imagination with a scintillating last-to-first debut at Del Mar July 31. She missed some training time with a minor illness and didn’t race again until the Oct. 8 Chandelier (G2), where she failed to close enough and wound up third. That stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles, while trying stakes rivals in an Oaks points race, proved a bit too much in her second start.

Justique regrouped back at Del Mar in the Nov. 19 Desi Arnaz S., a one-turn stakes more like her maiden win. Launching another eye-catching move from far back, the C R K Stable runner won for fun by 2 1/4 lengths. 

The Santa Ynez gives Justique an opportunity to score Oaks points at Santa Anita, while remaining at the same seven-furlong trip as the Desi Arnaz. Regular rider Victor Espinoza will guide the deep closer from post 2.

Her most interesting rivals are Ice Dancing and Lily Poo. 

Ice Dancing was third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and fourth in the Chandelier, crossing the wire a half-length behind Justique in the latter, as a maiden. The Richard Mandella pupil dropped back to the maiden ranks to earn her first win at Del Mar Nov. 25. That came in front-running fashion over a mile, so Ice Dancing will be shortening up here.

Lily Poo, who just broke her maiden sprinting at Del Mar, has since been acquired by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and transferred to trainer Michael McCarthy. She had placed second in her first two outings, notably to Faiza, the next-out Starlet (G1) winner.

The Doug O’Neill-trained Satin Doll was fourth in the Aug. 13 Sorrento (G2) and fifth in the Oct. 28 Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland in her prior stakes attempts. Most recently a distant third in a one-mile allowance over the Turfway Park Tapeta, she could fare better back sprinting on dirt. 

The three remaining entrants – Parody, Huntingcoco, and Fast and Shiny – are ineligible to accrue points because their trainer, Bob Baffert, is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. Parody and Huntingcoco were fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Justique in the Desi Arnaz. Huntingcoco was previously seventh in the Chandelier. Fast and Shiny has tried turf routes since her poor fifth in the Del Mar Debutante, and now reverts to a dirt sprint.