Juddmonte’s homebred filly, Accede, displayed her class with a strong finish to clinch victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bed o’ Roses Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares at Aqueduct. Trained by four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Accede's win marks Brown's second consecutive victory in this event, following Goodnight Olive's triumph last year.
Under the expert guidance of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., the 4-year-old Into Mischief bay broke sharply from post 3, albeit slightly outward, prompting Morning Matcha and Just Katherine to drop back momentarily. Taking the lead early on, Accede faced heavy pressure from Beguine, who challenged from post 10 but managed to maintain her position through an opening quarter-mile in 23.22 seconds on the fast main track.
Ortiz strategically navigated Accede along the rail down the backstretch, allowing Trevor McCarthy and Beguine to surge ahead, while Jose Lezcano on Leave No Trace briefly edged ahead of Accede for second position heading into the turn after a half-mile in 46.01 seconds.
Accede continued to hold her ground along the rail, conserving energy as Leave No Trace made a move on the front-running Beguine. Meanwhile, Manny Franco aboard Just Katherine initiated a late charge widest of all, seeking his third consecutive win of the day. As they hit three-quarters in 1:10.63, Accede found herself boxed in briefly.
With a furlong to go, a narrow gap opened between tiring frontrunners, Beguine and Leave No Trace, and Accede surged through with determination to reclaim the lead. Just Katherine loomed large on her outside, but Accede, showing remarkable tenacity, held on to win by a neck in a final time of 1:22.83.
Ortiz praised Accede’s courage and responsiveness in seizing the opportunity for victory, highlighting her strong finish and resilience under pressure. The battle for show honours saw Hot Fudge clinch third, with Shidabhuti and Flying Connection following closely behind.
Accede, a daughter of Mizzen Mast mare Jibboom, earned $110,000 with this victory, bringing her overall record to 8 starts with 4 wins. Her notable progression from her 3-year-old to 4-year-old season, coupled with a strategic freshening by the Juddmonte team, has proven effective in her development as a top sprinter.
Looking ahead, Brown hinted at a potential target for Accede in the prestigious seven-furlong Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on August 24, a “win, and you’re in” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Ortiz’s adept handling and Accede’s unwavering determination suggest promising prospects for future success on the racing circuit.