Jestina Runs Win Streak to Five Races in Friday Feature

3YO Filly Scores Popular Decision in Debut for New Owners

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – St. Elias Stables, Turf Express Racing, Inc. and Miller Racing’s 3-year-old filly Jestina, racing for the first time since being purchased privately, paid immediate dividends for her new owners with a popular 1 ¾-length victory in Friday’s feature at Gulfstream Park.

It was the fifth consecutive win for Jestina ($2.80) and second of the day for the combination of jockey Micah Husbands and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., whose wife Morgan’s Shining Stables owned the gray or roan daughter of Valiant Minister through her first eight races.

“She just keeps winning,” Joseph said. “Congrats to the new owners. We sold her to St. Elias and a few other owners bought into her, so it’s always nice to get the new owners a win in their first run.

“She’s the kind of horse that we feel like is going to progressively get better, and now was the right time to get ownership into her,” he added. “She took a while to figure it out, but once she figured it out she’s been on a roll.”

Sent off as the 2-5 favorite over seven rivals in the optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up, Jestina settled in fourth along the rail as 11-1 longshots Hello Poocy Lou and Miss Brownie battled with stakes winner My Denysse up front through fractions of 22.55 and 45.64 seconds.

Husbands was still on the inside awaiting room rounding the far turn, but was able to budge past Miss Brownie at the top of the stretch and send Jestina through a narrow seam before opening up once in the clear. The winning time was 1:25.13 for seven furlongs over a fast track.

“There were two horses backing up and obviously the rider was kind of trying to keep her in because she was the favorite, but eventually she was able to push out a little bit and once she got room she went on,” Joseph said. “She didn’t get the easiest of trips, but she’s been able to overcome those trips and that’s why we feel like she’s progressing and keep improving.”

Purchased for just $7,000 as a yearling in the fall of 2024, Jestina won one of her first four starts before launching her current streak with a three-length optional claiming triumph April 16, her fourth race this year. Her last five victories have come by 18 ¾ combined lengths.

Friday’s win was Jestina’s second straight against older horses, but Joseph hopes to get her back against 3-year-old fillies again for her next start, likely in stakes company.

“Usually your last option is the 3-year-old stakes. After this, now is the time to try to run in a 3-year-old stakes because there’s only so many of them left,” Joseph said. “It’s a big jump from 3-year-olds to older horses. Which one I don’t know yet, but she’ll go to some 3-year-old stakes I would reckon after this race.

“She’s a very cool horse. You can almost ride her like a turf horse. She’s OK with taking dirt, you can keep her on the inside and then she has that turn of foot,” he added. “We feel like she’s going to develop into some kind of stakes level. We don’t know if it’s Florida-bred only or maybe a step higher, but she is getting better.”

Notes: Jockey Micah Husbands and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. teamed up for a pair of winners, Yes I’m Gorgeous ($8.20) in Race 5 and Jestina ($2.80) in Race 8 … Jockey Jose Morelos also doubled aboard Code Three ($10.40) in Race 1 and Bonmati ($9.80) in Race 6 … The 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 5-10) will have an estimated jackpot pool of $75,000 for Saturday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream that includes the $65,000 Duke of Mischief overnight handicap (Race 6) and $100,000 Hollywood Beach (Race 8). Post time is 12:20 p.m.