$150,000 Poinsettia Stakes

Jersey Pearl took advantage of a tardy break by heavily favored Hillerto to score a two-length victory in the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes for female sprinters, 3 and up, Sunday at Oaklawn.

Jersey Pearl, after breaking from post 6, shadowed front-running Kant Believe It on the outside through a :46.21 half-mile before moving to the lead turning for home.

Jersey Pearl ($12.40) opened a clear lead in midstretch and held off Benedetta in the final 100 yards. The winning time over a fast track was 1:04.17.

Benedetta finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Tapit Quick, who was followed, in order, by Kant Believe It, Hillerto and Gray Lightning.

Hillerto, who beat Jersey Pearl in the six-furlong Dream Supreme Stakes Nov. 8 at Churchill Downs, was never a serious factor after breaking a step slow from post 2 under eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. Hillerto had never finished worse than second in her previous eight lifetime starts.

Jersey Pearl represented the first Oaklawn stakes victory for her Kentucky-based connections – owners Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton (Silverton Hill Farm) and trainer Darrin Miller – since Great Notion captured the $75,000 Southwest in 2003.

Jersey Pearl, a 5-year-old daughter of Bee Jersey, raised her career earnings to $629,022 following her sixth victory from 15 starts. The Hamiltons purchased Jersey Pearl for just $12,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The Poinsettia was Jersey Pearl’s second career stakes victory. She won the Cheryl S. White Memorial Stakes in 2023 at Mahoning Valley. Jersey Pearl ran third in the Dream Supreme.

Racing resumes Friday at 12:30 p.m. (Central).

WINNING JOCKEY FRANCISCO ARRIETA (JERSEY PEARL): “She’s a very nice filly. Always tries for me. I’ve ridden her, probably, five times. Like three wins, seconds and thirds. She always tries for me. Darrin (Miller) has done a great job with this big filly, keeping her sound and fit. I give him all the credit. She jumped great and put me, actually, right on the lead. She ran great.”

 WINNING TRAINER DARRIN MILLER (JERSEY PEARL): “I thought, had we not been anywhere else, I’d been a little worried. But I was glad we were on the outside. I thought that helped us a bunch. She’s fast herself. (Future plans?). We’ll probably be back here, actually. We had Oaklawn sort of in our sights after the fall of the year. Thought we would see if she likes it down here. We’ll probably be back here for some of those (stakes).”