Ellen Jay back to dirt for $135K Garland of Roses
At 0h40, on December 8, 2024 • By Aqueduct
LNJ Foxwoods’ Kentucky homebred Ellen Jay will switch back to the main track for Sunday’s $135,000 Garland of Roses, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, Ellen Jay was last seen besting fellow sophomore fillies in the Listed Glen Cove sprinting this distance over turf on October 18 here.
The daughter of Constitution improved her turf ledger to 3-for-3 with the pace-pressing victory under Flavien Prat, pouncing in the turn to edge clear to a 1 1/2-length score over Agra. The effort, which followed four starts against elders, was awarded an 87 Beyer Speed Figure and came after earning a career-best 92 Beyer for an allowance romp sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on August 10 at Ellis Park.
Ellen Jay made her first two starts over dirt, finishing a closing fourth on debut in May at Churchill Downs and following with a well-beaten third in June over the same course. Dustin Dugas, Cox’s New York assistant, said Ellen Jay trains like she is ready to try the main track again in her sixth lifetime start.
“I think she gets over the dirt really well and I don’t have any complaints about her over it,” Dugas said. “I know Flavien the other day thought she warmed up over the dirt good, and she’s always breezed over it in a great way. I don’t see it being any different. She’s growing up and is more mature physically and mentally.”
Ellen Jay is out of LNJ Foxwoods’ Covfefe, whom Cox trained to dual Eclipse Award honors in 2019 as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Sprinter. Ellen Jay has remained at Belmont Park since her Glen Cove score, posting five works that included a half-mile in 49 seconds flat on Sunday over the dirt training track.
Dugas said he was pleased with the recent breeze.
“She’s doing really good. She’s a very energetic filly and very forward in her training,” Dugas said. “She’s been full of herself, and I’m happy with the way she’s been training.”
Prat retains the mount from post 6.
