J’ray secured her first win in more than eight months as she seized command in early stretch en route to winning the $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old Distant View mare defeated runner-up Dyna’s Lassie by 1¾ lengths and completed 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in a blistering 1:46.39, a new course record at Monmouth. The previous record of 1:46.49 was set by Skiding on August 20, 2006.

Third-place finisher Cozzi Capital finished a neck behind Dyna’s Lassie.

Jockey Joe Bravo kept J’ray off the rail reserved near the back of the nine-horse field. J’ray trailed the field through six furlongs but was only a little more than three lengths off the lead.

J’ray launched a sweeping move on the far turn, accelerated past fading favorite Paris Winds (Ire) near the eighth pole, and powered to her first win since December 2007.

Eclisse (Fr) set the early pace under Elvis Trujillo and led by 2½ lengths after an opening quarter in :24.13. Eclisse led by 1 ½ lengths after a half-mile in :47.17 and by a head with three furlongs to go as J’ray began her winning rally from the back of the field.

As a reward for hitting the board, Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Kentucky, will offer the top three finishers stallion seasons to one of three sires—Grade 1 winner Wildcat Heir at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Grade 1 winner Southern Image at Taylor Made, or Grade 2 winner Northern Afleet at Taylor Made.

The win was the first of the year for J’ray and his first since taking the My Charmer Handicap (G3) on December 1 at Calder Race Course. In her previous start, J’ray finished fifth in the All Along Stakes (G3) on June 21 at Colonial Downs.

J’ray has won eight of 22 career starts, including three Grade 3 victories. J’ray is out of the winning Darshaan mare Bubbling Heights (Fr) and has banked $686,889 in career earnings.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)