Spendthrift Farm’s Kentucky homebred Tommy Jo was elevated to first place following the disqualification of Percy’s Bar in the 74th running of the $650,000 Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland. The win earned the Spendthrift colorbearer a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Tommy Jo tracked from second the early pace set by Percy’s Bar. She applied pressure in upper stretch but Percy’s Bar came out and bumped her rival off stride in the lane. While Percy’s Bar crossed the wire first, she was disqualified and placed second for interference.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Tommy Jo represented the second Alcibiades winner for both trainer and jockey. Pletcher saddled Candied to victory in 2023 and Velazquez rode Stephanie’s Kitten to victory in 2011.
DQ Elevates Tommy Jo in Alcibiades
“(Disqualification) is not the way you want to win,” Pletcher said. “I thought the filly was running a good race, and there was obviously a lot of contact that impacted her ability to finish. Whether or not it was the difference in her getting to the finish line first or not, I don’t know. It was a significant bump. I thought she got a little bit tired. I think she’ll benefit from the two-turn experience, and that’s part of what we were hoping for. The filly that ultimately finished second (Percy’s Bar) is a nice filly. She ran well against us in the Spinaway (G1 at Saratoga on Aug. 30) and has been impressive up to that. So, hopefully this brings forward a notch for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Velazquez said of the DQ, “I felt like she was gaining on (Percy’s Bar) little by little, head and head and I got after her. (Percy’s Bar) touched her the first time, but the second time she went completely off her lead.”
Tommy Jo is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Pioneerof the Nile mare Mother Mother. Now 3-for-3, Tommy Jo has earned $617,963. She will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup.