WinStar Farm’s Gemologist ran his record to a perfect 3-for-3 with a 1 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs. The 2-year-old son of Tiznow was the second graded stakes winner of the day for his sire. Earlier at Aqueduct, Lovely Lil won the Grade 2 Go for Wand H.
Gemologist got hung three wide after breaking from the nine hole in the 1 1/16 mile contest, but still was just a length off the lead down the backstretch. Going even wider on the second turn, jockey Javier Castellano edged his mount closer to the front. He struck the lead at the furlong marker and drew off late to win in 1:44.46.
Gemologist earned $103,855 and bumped his career earnings to $145,855. He broke his maiden by five lengths at Turfway Park in September and won a first-level allowance event at Churchill Oct. 30 by two lengths.
“It’s always exciting when you have a good two-year-old turning three,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It kind of gives you something to look forward to when you head south for the winter. We’re always hoping to be back at Churchill in the spring.
“We’ll give him a little bit of a break off that and I’ll get with (WinStar President/CEO) Elliott (Walden) and we’ll come up with a game plan. I’d say we’d try to follow a similar path (to Super Saver, WinStar’s 2010 Kentucky Derby winner who also took the Kentucky Jockey Club), hopefully two starts before the big race if things go well.”
Gemologist is one of eight winners out of the unraced mare Crystal Shard. She is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Withallprobability.
