For Immediate Release: Saturday, June 7, 2014
TEA TIME CLEARLY BEST IN WINNING JOSTLE STAKES
Getting a smart and well fashioned trip under jockey Joshua Navarro, Tea Time overtook front running Fat Kat turning for home and then drew away to a convincing three and a half-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Jostle Stakes for three year-old fillies at Parx Racing. It was the second strakes win in seven career starts for the Pulpit filly and moved her lifetime earnings to a nice round $178,000.
Sometimes the winning move by a rider comes in the early stages of a race and that is precisely what played out in the Jostle. Tea Time drew the inside post in the six and a half furlong sprint, just to the inside of Fat Kat who looked to be the quicker of the two fillies. Knowing that, Navarro allowed Fat Kat to fire out to the early lead, get clear of his filly and that gave him the opportunity to get Tea Time of the inside rail and sit a clean, just off the pace trip on the outside of the leader. After switching to the outside, Navarro quickly moved Tea Time just off the leaders flank heading to the half mile pole and he would remain there and track the speedy front runner every step of the way.
Heading to the far turn, Tea Time slowly edged closer. What was a lead of three-quarters of a length became a half-length lead with three furlongs to go. Moving to the quarter pole, Tea Time was now right at the neck of Fat Kat and looked to be the stronger horse. Coming off the turn and into the stretch, Fat Kat was no match. Tea Time had taken the lead and was starting to pull away, leaving Fat Kat now desperately trying to hang in there for second. Long shot Offlee Golden loomed a threat to take place money as she tried to push by the tiring Fat Kat. Tea Time was strong to the finish, gliding under the line a three and a half length winner while Fat Kat held on for second and Offlee Golden came home a very creditable third.
Owned by Helen Groves, Jon Kelly and Sarah Kelly, Tea Time came into the race as the only filly to compete against graded stakes company. While she did fade to fifth, she did lead the Grade 1 Frizette field last year to the top of the stretch. Despite her credentials, she was overlooked at the windows and went off at a price of 8-1 and paid $19.00, 7.00, and 4.40. Fat Kat, 9-5 second choice, lost her bid to make in four straight wins and settled for second, returning 4.00 and 2.80. Offlee Golden, the longest price at 22-1, ran exceptionally well for third and paid 5.20 to show. The 4-5 favorite Stormy Novel got a wide trip from the outside gate and was not a factor. The final time over a track labeled fast was 1:16.31.
