House of Grace remained undefeated in two starts Thursday at Keeneland with a narrow victory in the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

 

The daughter of Limehouse ran 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack in 1:44.32 and earned a trip to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 6 at Santa Anita.  Originally scheduled for the turf, the Jessamine was moved to the main track following overnight rain.

 

Racing along the rail early, House of Grace angled out in the stretch under Mike Luzzi and wore down Smart Seattle to win by a nose.  It was 3 ¼ lengths back to third-place Hatheer.

 

“Great trip,” said Luzzi.  “I followed Jeremy Rose (on Smart Seattle).  He got a perfect trip; so did I.”

 

House of Grace, who races for owner Magdalena Racing, won her only previous start, a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Saratoga in August.  The win increased her earnings to $120,600 and she paid $8 as the third choice in the field of nine..

 

Trainer Ken McPeek said House of Grace “definitely” will run in the Breeders’ Cup.  “We’d like to get back to the grass.  I think she’s better on the turf.  It’s just a great situation.”