Crystal Ball made a sparkling return to stakes company and shone in her debut for a new barn in taking the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares Saturday at Thistledown.
The filly also keyed a big day for the ownership team behind WinStar Farm and for jockey Luis Saez, who won three races including a pair of stakes on the day.
Crystal Ball ($6) kindly stalked the pace set by locally based Racinrosemary, a length back through a half-mile in 47.88 seconds and six furlongs in 1:13.44 on the fast main track. She took the lead in upper stretch, with Miss Bigly, who was stalked-placed at Churchill Downs in her most recent outing, coming to her on the outside. Crystal Ball dug in to repel her challenger through the final sixteenth, edging clear by 1 1/4 lengths at the wire. She finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.80.
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