Jockey Luis Saez took F Five to the front and never relinquished the lead to win Sunday's $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Handicap going two miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Brian Lynch and owned by Ferro Family Trust, Larry Connor, and Bruno DeBerdt, F Five covered the distance in 3:20.81. Team Valor International's McLovin was second, a neck behind the winner, and Six Minus was third in the field of eight.
F Five entered the Jerkens after a 10th place finish in the River City (G3) in November at Churchill Downs, his first start off a 2½-month layoff after two consecutive victories over the turf at Ellis Park and the Louisville oval. The 4-year-old son of Not This Time won those races at 1 1/8 miles and 1 3/8th miles. Lynch said the plan was to put F Five on the front.
“You would have to bend him in half to take him back in a race like that, and Luis was almost having to do that to walk the dog on the front end,” Lynch said. “But just an unbelievable ride. It's always a lot of fun for me to run these kind of distances…it's always fun to get one to go two miles.”
After going a half in :51.24, a mile in 1:43.53, and 1¼ miles in 2:09.49, McLovin drew alongside F Five entering the stretch, but the winner gamely held off the challenge.
Lynch said F Five, who has annexed three of five starts this year, could return Jan. 27 on Pegasus World Cup Day in the $200,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) at 1½ miles on the turf.
F Five ($5.40) was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm LLC from the Lion Heart mare Chelan Echo. Agent Bruno DeBerdt purchased him from his breeder for $260,000 at the the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Overall, F Five has a 4-1-0 record from seven lifetime outings and $270,668 in career purse earnings.
The post ‘Always Fun To Get One To Go Two Miles’: F Five Powers Gate To Wire In H. Allen Jerkens appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
