Despite having competed in turf and route races for nearly a year, Evening Jewel showed she could handle a turnback in distance with a solid third-place finish in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs (watch the video replay). With the third-place share of $99,000, Evening Jewel became the newest millionaire for her sire Northern Afleet, joining champions Afleet Alex and Big City Man on the exclusive list.

Breaking tenth of 13 in the seven furlong race, Evening Jewel was always three-wide or more going down the backstretch. Moving up steadily from eighth to fourth around the turn, she fanned even wider as the field swung into the stretch. Eventual winner Dubai Majesty had spurted away from the field, but Evening Jewel put in a strong closing run to pass favorite Champagne d’Oro for the show spot.

Evening Jewel now has a pair of in-the-money finishes at Churchill Downs; she lost the Kentucky Oaks (G1) over the Louisville oval by the narrowest of margins this past April.

Following the Oaks, the 3-year-old filly returned to her California base to reel off three straight graded stakes scores: Honeymoon H. (G2), San Clemente (G2), and Del Mar Oaks (G1), all on the grass. In her most recent start prior to the Breeders’ Cup, she was third in the QEII Cup (G1), also on the turf, at Keeneland.

Evening Jewel’s career record stands at an impressive 6-5-2 in 14 starts, with earnings of $1,006,943.

Evening Jewel is the first foal out of Jewel of the Night, who is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winners Saucey Evening and Petition the Lady. She also comes from the same family that includes multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge.

Northern Afleet has 121 winners and 58 repeat winners, both rank in the top 12 on the North American general sire list for 2010.