Kentucky-bred Just FYI overtook pacesetter Irish Maxima after moving four wide into the upper stretch en route to a 3 ¾-length victory in the $400,000 Frizette S. (G1) at the Belmont at the Big A meet on Saturday, Oct. 7. The victory by the George Krikorian homebred earned the daughter of Justify a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. Krikorian racked up back-to-back Grade 1 wins with War Like Goddess capturing the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) in the race before the Frizette.
“It’s very special,” noted Krikorian. “I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m ecstatic. Last time, she got to the lead right at the wire in that race. Going a longer distance, we were hopeful that distance was going to be helpful to her, which it turned out to be. With the bad weather and everything, you never know how the horses are going to do. She handled it all well, and she handles everything well.”
Trained by Bill Mott, Just FYI accomplished the win over a sloppy (sealed track). It was the second win for Just FYI in as many starts. She broke her maiden in her Aug. 26 maiden special weight debut at Saratoga.
“[The track] was the big question and we didn’t know,” said Mott of his charge’s win in the Frizette. “You don’t know until you run them. We thought she was a nice filly, and in this day and age, I guess if you break your maiden impressively, you’re looking at going to a stakes race because aren’t many allowance races.”
Just FYI is a daughter of Justify out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Star Act.