Averly Jane improved her record to a perfect three-for-three with a wire-to-wire romp in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga August 20.
Making her first start since taking the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs in April, the two-year-old Midshipman filly showed no signs of rust, breaking sharply and going straight to the lead. Averly Jane continued to sail along on the front end, maintaining her advantage as the field of nine swept through the far turn and entered the homestretch.
With a furlong left to run, Averly Jane began to open up on her rivals, eventually crossing the wire seven-and-a-quarter lengths in the clear, all the while under just a hand-ride from jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Final time for the five-and-a-half furlongs, which was moved from the turf to the dirt, was 1:03.79.
Averly Jane was bred in Kentucky by the University of Kentucky and is a half-sister to the Stakes winner Chattel, who captured this same event in 2018. Her second dam, Capote’s Gift, is out of a Stakes-producing half-sister to Stakes winners Miami Slick and Cielo Otono, and is a full sister to Stakes-placed Another Moment.
Midshipman’s 17% Black Type horses from starters continues to be among the best in the business. In addition to Averly Jane, some of the stallion’s other top performers this year include Royal Ship, winner of the G2 Californian; Naval Laughter (G3 Modesty Stakes) and Special Reserve (G3 Maryland Sprint Match Series Stakes).
