Lopez strikes again with Ju Ju Eyeballs in Just Smashing Stakes

Ju Ju Eyeballs won the $61,200 Just Smashing Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters Sunday to cap a weekend of stakes upsets at Monmouth Park for jockey Paco Lopez.

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On Saturday, Lopez guided Hard Enough to a 12-1 score in the Jersey Derby. One day later, Lopez and Ju Ju Eyeballs took the Just Smashing at 6-1, as Blueeyesintherein, the 4-5 favorite, ran fifth.

The late money poured in on Blueeyesintherein, a winner of four of five coming in who made a long trip here from Kentucky. Meanwhile, the price on the locally based Ju Ju Eyeballs drifted upward, even though the $15,000 claim from last winter had won four in a row for trainer Jason Servis.

Breaking a step slowly from the rail, Blueeyesintherein didn’t seem comfortable until rider Leandro Goncalves guided her to the outside.

Blueeyesintherein moved into third, sitting right off the duel between Indian Spell and Dreamingofcarmella.

Meanwhile, Ju Ju Eyeballs and Lopez saved all the ground, angling off the fence to the inside of Blueeyesintherein as the field turned for home.
The fresh challenger easily powered away from the pack, winning by 5 1/4 lengths and paying $14.80 to win. Ol Donyo nosed out Dreamingofcarmella for second.

“I just wanted to settle off the pace,” Lopez said. “My horse was strong the whole way right behind the leaders. I split horses at the top of the stretch, and she did it very easily.”

The time was 1:11.46 for six furlongs on the fast track.

Lucky Liberty was fourth, followed by Blueeyesintherein and Indian Spell.