What a performance! Performances, really, as ultra-popular Juba delivered in a big way on the track and online. It was the latter that came first. The bidding on “Jubacasso”‘s Moneigh closed at a whopping $1,283.88. The price tag ranks Juba among the Top 5 most expensive artists in ReRun‘s history. His company in the upper echelon includes some of racing’s finest – American Pharoah and Zenyatta. The proceeds for Juba’s art, which he made with After the Finish Line, will be split between the two charities. ReRun’s portion has already directly funded the rescue of two mares from a kill pen.
Just four days later, Juba was at the center of a very different kind of eye-popping result. On Thursday afternoon, Juba found himself facing a tough field off the January layoff. Dismissed at 7-1, by far the longest odds he’s been since his career debut, Juba put forth the biggest performance of his career. The handsome gray received a textbook ride from Hall of Famer John Velazquez and turned it in to a powerhouse effort, drawing off to a 6 1/4 length victory. The Beyer speed figure of 100 marked a new lifetime top and is a mere six points off 2016’s highest number going up to a mile.
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