KINGSTON, Jamaica - The 2024 three-year-old Classic season gets underway On Saturday, June 1, with the running of the fillies only Jamaica 1000 Guineas.
The 1000 Jamaica will be contested over a mile, with 12 of the best three-year-old fillies currently in training nominated to face the starter.
The Quick Galloper’s analysis of the season’s first Classic is provided below, done in order of the post-positions.
1 - FASTNFURIOUSLINKS is a grey (February 15) by Casual Trick out of Another Fury, trained by Barrington Bernard with Paul Francis riding. This roan filly has not lived up to early expectations after finishing third in the 2023 Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. Fastnfuriouslinks has raced three times in 2024, with her best effort being a second-place finish, nine lengths, behind Run Julie Run in The Portmore. The best possible outcome for Fastnfuriouslinks in the 1000 is a place on the board.
2 - AMMA is a bay (February 3) by Bern Identity out of Blufield, trained by Peter-John Parsard with Jerome Innis aboard: This filly is difficult to assess. From her four career starts, Amma has won once and was a no-show in the Thornbird Stakes on April 13, when she was eased down with about a furlong left in the contest. Amma is one for consideration for a minor share of the 1000 Guineas prize.
3 - COMEHOMETOME is a bay (January 29) by Northern Giant out of Heart of Gold, trained by Jason DaCosta with Tevin Foster in the saddle. Brings experience to the table having raced on 11 occasions. Based on her past performances, Comehometome is better off at a distance below a mile, yet she is consistent as they come and cannot be taken out of the fray.
4 - BLU SENSATION is a bay (February 12) by Sensational Slam out of Blues In The Grass, trained by Peter-John Parsard with Oneil Mullings holding the reins. Has been plugging along, with her third-place finish behind Run Julie Run and Fastnfuriouslinks in The Portmore (May 4), signalling a welcome return to some sort of form. Blu Sensation will relish the Guineas distance of a mile and with morning reports suggesting improvement, she has to be seriously considered for at least an exacta placing.
5 - BATTLE ANGEL is a chestnut (May 18) by Bern Identity out of Angel Dreams, trained by Anthony Nunes with Raddesh Nunes as the designated jockey. Continues to battle in her races. Will not affect the placings in the 1000.
6 - MIDNIGHT FLIGHT is a grey (May 8) by Midnight Hawk out of Honeymoon Bay, trained by Byron Davis with Omar Walker riding. Showed up prominently in the Thornbird Stakes (April 13), then drifted away to 11th. Midnight Angel cannot manage these rivals at this time.
7 - RUN JULIE RUN is a grey (May 6) by Successful Native out of Runaway Julie, trained by Ian Parsard with Reyan Lewis aboard. Run Julie Run is the undoubtedly leader of the 2024 - three-year-old female cohort. Her performance in the 7 ½ furlong The Portmore (May 4) was mind-blowing, winning by all of nine lengths in a time of 1:33.2 for 7 ½ furlongs, which was just a fifth of a second slower than the time recorded for the same distance by colt, Intrestntimesahead. At this stage of the three-year-old campaign, Run Julie Run is a cinch to win the 1000 Guineas. Plus, she has shown added progress in the mornings, making her extremely difficult to oppose. Then again it is racing, where anything can happen.
8 - BUTTERCUP is a bay February 2) by Conquest Cherimash out of Shahar, trained by Richard Azan with Shane Richardson in the saddle. Will enjoy the distance of a mile but has been off form for a while now. Buttercup can be given a look in by way of the exactas.
9 - SHANY STAR is a bay (April 15) by Savoy Stomp out of Gentle Officer, trained by Lawrence Freemantle with Phillip Parchment riding. Has shown consistency in her four starts, but that will not be enough to find the winning post in front.
10 - CRYPTOGIRL is a chestnut (April 18) by Soul Warrior out of Twilight Eruption, trained by Donovan Plummer with Shamaree Muir in the saddle. Known for her early speed, Cryptogirl will find eight furlongs taxing.
11 - ROSETTA is a roan (April 6) by Bold Conquest out of Khadiliah, trained by Jason DaCosta with Robert Halledeen aboard. Took a while to shed her maiden tag. Will need time to progress further.
12 - BANADURA is a bay (March 21) by Casual Trick out of Ezperanza, trained by Jason DaCosta with Josue Osorio in the saddle. The early leader among the three-year-old fillies’ segment. Banadura is a speedster, who will find a mile difficult to handle. She will have a say, especially in the early part of this contest.
