Jehozacat, a 5-year-old mare by Tapit, earned her first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s G3 Lambholm South Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Arnaud Delacour and Lael Stables.
In winning the Endeavor, Jehozacat put away a salty field of fillies and mares, including Grade 1 winner Got Stormy and Andina Del Sur, the 2018 Grade III Florida Oaks winner. Jehozacat is a homebred of Lael Stables’ Roy and Gretchen Jackson. Last time out, Jehozacat won the Wayward Lass Stakes on the dirt at Tampa Bay in January.
“Graded races are not easy to win and we don’t take them for granted,” Delacour said. “Today the strategy was to go to the front and let her do her thing because there was not much pace in the race. Daniel does a great job. He knows that track so well and is so confident about his pace.”
Centeno sported a wide smile entering the winner’s circle on the daughter of Tapit–Precious Kitten, by Catienus, who he also rode in the Wayward Lass. “When Arnaud told me this morning the other speed in the race (Dynatail) was scratched, I said that is going to set up everything perfect for us. I was going to be by myself on the lead, and that’s how it worked out and I rode her all the way to the wire,” he said.
“She’s a nice mare and has been improving every race, and she handles both dirt and turf.”
Tapit stands at Gainesway for $200,000.