Elimination winner JK First Lady soared off cover with a swift final quarter to nail 23-1 shot Rocknificent on the line and win the $411,000 Three Diamonds Final as the track downgraded to “Good” on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Meadowlands.
Rocknificent blasted from post 10 for the lead as Hen Party floated into second and Marloe Hanover into third. Odds-on favourite Lyons Sentinel sat fourth before pulling from the pylons passing a :26.4 quarter and quickly brushing to the top into the backside. Marloe Hanover then tipped first over moving to a :55.3 half, supplying cover to JK First Lady into the final turn.
Marloe Hanover pressed Lyons Sentinel through three-quarters in 1:23 but gave way into the stretch. Lyons Sentinel meanwhile drifted off the pylons, opening a seam for Rocknificent to shoot through while JK First Lady kicked off cover and rallied to the center of the course. Rocknificent held control coming to the finish but JK First Lady sprinted quickest to the finish to click the teletimer in 1:49.2. Lyons Sentinel settled for third with Hen Party fourth.
“I really liked my spot in the first turn where I got away,” winning driver Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I figured if David [Miller on Marloe Hanover] moves to the front first, then I get to follow Timmy [Tetrick on Lyons Sentinel] or vice versa. And if they both move to the front, then that would be some good pace to come into.”
A daughter of Western Ideal out of 2014 Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year JK Shesalady, JK First Lady won her fifth race from 11 starts, earning $371,520 for owner-breeder 3 Brothers Stables.
"Obviously it's very special when you get to train a first foal out of a mare like JK She'salady,” trainer Nancy Johansson said after the race. “She was just a great filly for me—she was the first horse that really put me on the map. It's extra super special that she got to win a stakes race that her mom won too.”
JK First Lady paid $6.80 to win.