If it was not entirely smooth sailing for Destino d'Oro in Friday's Gr2 Jessamine S, it was clearly another big step toward stardom.

The 2yo Bolt d'Oro filly out of Gr1-placed Heart of Destiny (Lion Heart) finished a fast-closing 3rd as the favorite in Keeneland's opening day co-feature. The Hurstland Farm graduate was squeezed back soon after the start, rallied widest into the home stretch and still came only a head shy of pulling out victory.

Eventual winner May Day Ready got clear running under Frankie Dettori at the 1/8th pole and closed resolutely outside Totally Justified, who would finish 2nd. Flavien Prat swung Destino d’Oro out after steadily improving their position around the far turn. His filly momentarily cocked her head but once straight finished strong, coming up a stride short of winning the bob.

Those mere inches also cost owner Steve Landers and Brad Cox an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a race typically oversubscribed with entries from America and abroad. Even so, the future couldn't appear brighter just two starts into their filly's career.

A $185,000 OBS purchase, Destino d'Oro was a special-looking debut winner in September, rallying wide then as well against the grain of Kentucky Downs' undulating course.

The Jessamine was also poignant for Alfred Nuckols, co-breeder of Destino d'Oro and dam Heart of Destiny. In Keeneland's 2011 Alcibiades, the Keeneland standard also renewed Friday, Heart of Destiny finished 2nd to future turf champion Stephanie's Kitten carrying the Hurstland colors.

Hailing from the immediately family of Gr1 winner and fellow Hurstland graduate Rosalind, Heart of Destiny has produced five winners.

Keeneland photo.