TAPIT’s May Day Ready kept her record perfect on Friday when she won her first graded stakes in the Jessamine S. (G2) to open Keeneland’s meet and punch a ticket to next month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Bumping with another rival at the start of the 1 1/16-mile turf affair, the juvenile then had to deal with another runner bothering her shortly after the break. Backing up to run among the horses are the rear of the field, Frankie Dettori had to convince her to settle after the early running.
Racing a few paths wide, she started her move far into the turn to put herself closer to the lead for the closing stage. Making a strong charge, she collared the leader with a sixteenth left to run and had to fight both that runner and another to win by a nose in a three-way photo for the win.
#8 MAY DAY READY ($10.80) gets her nose down on the wire first in a thrilling edition of the $350,000 Jessamine Stakes (G2) at @Keeneland. She is in the @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf!
The Tapit (@Gainesway) filly was ridden by @FrankieDettori for trainer Joseph Lee. pic.twitter.com/zNKoFPYzVM
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2024
This was the second stakes victory in three starts for the Joseph Lee-trained May Day Ready, who also won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies S. after breaking her maiden on debut at Saratoga. Racing for KatieRich Stables, she was a $325,000 OBS April 2-year-old purchase earlier this year.
White Birch Farm bred the filly out of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Nemoralia, who was Grade 1 placed in three different countries. Both the mare’s foals to race have won at least one race.
Nemoralia’s dam is the multiple stakes winning Alina, who produced seven winners from eight to race.
This is the third winner in six days for TAPIT, who also saw Tapit Trice and Pure Majestic win stakes last Saturday.