By J.N. Campbell
The 35th running of the GII Jessamine Stakes–a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar–was the graded coming out party for Imaginationthelady (Not This Time–Romanticism, by War Front) who punched her ticket to the seaside oval at the end of the month and the filly also led a Not This Time Trifecta for her sire at Keeneland on Friday.
A $300,000 Keeneland September buy, the juvenile broke her maiden by 1 1/2 lengths at first asking over the Kentucky Downs turf Sept. 4. With most of the public's money deposited in the coffer of 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, Time to Dream (Not This Time) who was made the even-money favorite, Imaginationthelady went off as a juicy 10-1 shot here.
The 2-year-old was forward, racing four wide before being taken back a tick by jockey Frankie Dettori, as the field pointed to the first turn. Waiting for the right moment to uncork, the bay made her move around the far turn, which set her up to roll from an outside lane. Hitting the accelerator, the Mark Dobbin filly closed nicely and cleared past the sixteenth marker to take the prizes. Infinite Sky (Not This Time) finished with good energy as the runner-up, while Time to Dream was third to give their sire a clean sweep of the podium.
“I was quietly confident,” said trainer Brendan Walsh. “We liked her before she ran the first time, and she won, and she's been improving since. So it was a question of how much she was improving–typical 2-year-old– but she ran a very nice race [today]. [Jockey] Frankie [Dettori] was able to wait as long as he could, and like he said, he gave her a good education, and I'm sure that will stand her down the line.”
Pedigree Notes:
The versatile Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway) adds another graded scorer to his tally–now sitting at 29. His budding grass roster of higher-level winners includes current sire Up to the Mark and Cogburn, plus Sacred Wish, Troubleshooting, Arzak and Gigante.
Imaginationthelady's dam is responsible for a 3-year-old colt in-training owned by Pin Oak Stud named Juris Doctor (Constitution) and a colt by Liam's Map, who was taken home by Barry Berkelhammer for $325,000 at the recent Keeneland September sale.
Part of an extended female family which includes MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy), MGSW Fulsome (Into Mischief) and European champion 2-year-old filly Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy), Romanticism was entered in Muth's book for next spring.
Friday, Keeneland
JESSAMINE S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES-GII, $398,750, Keeneland, 10-3, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.61, fm.
1–IMAGINATIONTHELADY, 118, f, 2, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Romanticism, by War Front
2nd Dam: Sightseek, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Viviana, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Mark Dobbin; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $229,400. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $331,400. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Infinite Sky, 118, f, 2, Not This Time–Sky Painter, by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $74,000.
3–Time to Dream, 120, f, 2, Not This Time–Wild Silk, by Street Sense. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($750,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). O-Repole Stable; B-Maggie Gieseke (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $37,000.
Margins: 1, NO, NK. Odds: 10.08, 21.61, 1.03.
Also Ran: Soloist, Lit Ship, Aggressive Lime, Carolyncaroline, Loveliest, Red Beretta, Mackinac, Victor Help Me. Scratched: Diablo Shiraz, Dyna, Rose Room.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
The future is bright for Imaginationthelady! She books her ticket to the @JohnDeere #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf!
Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori
Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh
Owner: Mark Dobbin
Breeder: Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stablespic.twitter.com/TAnl5bXXos— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 3, 2025
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