Aunt Pearl (IRE)

Aunt Pearl made her career debut a memorable one when she led from start to finish in a five-length runaway victory going a mile on the grass at Churchill Downs Sept. 1, 2020.

The Lope de Vega filly was tested next in stakes competition and aced the exam Oct. 7 in the Grade 2 JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes. Aunt Pearl went right to the front and set a strong pace under Florent Geroux and had plenty of stamina in reserve for the stretch run as she charged to another dominant victory, completing 1 1/16 miles in a stakes record 1:40.86, more than 1 ½ seconds faster than the previous record.

The Jessamine Stakes victory earned Aunt Pearl an expenses-paid berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 6 on Fall Stars Friday at the World Championships.

Aunt Pearl was similarly dominant in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, leading from start to finish to improve to 3-for-3 for trainer Brad Cox with a never-in-doubt, 2 1/2-length victory going a mile at Keeneland.

Aunt Pearl made her 3-year-old debut on April 30 in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes Presented by Newport Racing and Gaming at Churchill Downs. Sent off as the 3-10 favorite, she set a leisurely pace and kept the lead into the top of the stretch before giving way readily and finishing fifth in a disappointing performance.

Multiple stakes-placed winner Matauri Pearl, by Hurricane Run, is the dam (mother) of Aunt Pearl, who also hails from the family of multiple Group 1 winner and leading German sire Monsun.