HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The Jestina win streak reached five races on Friday as the three-year-old filly produced a determined 1¾-length victory in the feature at Gulfstream Park. Racing for the first time since being privately purchased, Jestina delivered an immediate success for St. Elias Stables, Turf Express Racing, Inc. and Miller Racing, while jockey Micah Husbands and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. combined for their second victory of the afternoon.
Jestina settled fourth along the inside as Hello Poocy Lou, Miss Brownie and stakes winner My Denysse disputed the early pace. The opening fractions were 22.55 and 45.64 seconds, with Jestina maintaining her position behind the leaders. Husbands kept the filly covered up along the rail as the field moved into the far turn, waiting for an opportunity to secure clear running room.
That opportunity came near the top of the stretch when Jestina moved past Miss Brownie and found space between rivals. Once in the clear, she produced a strong finishing effort and pulled away to record the 1¾-length victory. Jestina completed the seven-furlong contest in 1:25.13 over a fast track, extending a winning sequence that had continued to gather momentum through the season.
The Jestina win streak had begun after the filly won one of her first four starts and then launched her current run with a three-length victory on April 16, her fourth race of the year. Her five victories during the sequence had come by a combined margin of 18¾ lengths, with Friday’s performance adding another decisive result to the run.
Friday’s victory also marked Jestina’s first start for her new ownership group. Morgan’s Shining Stables had owned the daughter of Valiant Minister through her first eight starts before she was privately purchased. Jestina had originally been acquired for $7,000 as a yearling in the fall of 2024 and had steadily developed before beginning her current sequence of victories.
The latest success was Jestina’s second consecutive victory against older horses. Her connections had indicated that she could return to competition against three-year-old fillies for her next assignment, with a stakes race being considered as another opportunity to assess her development.
Joseph said Jestina had taken time to figure things out but had continued to improve once she gained confidence. He also highlighted her ability to settle during a race before producing a strong turn of foot when the necessary space became available. Friday’s performance again demonstrated that she could overcome a less straightforward position and finish strongly.
Husbands and Joseph had earlier combined with Yes I’m Gorgeous in Race 5, giving the pair two victories during the programme. Jockey Jose Morelos had also recorded a double, partnering Code Three in Race 1 and Bonmati in Race 6. Jestina’s performance nevertheless stood out as the feature result, with the three-year-old filly extending her winning run to five consecutive races.
The Jestina win streak reached five races after the three-year-old filly recorded a 1¾-length victory in the Gulfstream Park feature, completing seven furlongs in 1:25.13.
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