The sprint division will be going through champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) once again if Satuday's tour-de-force victory in the GI Churchill Downs S. is any indication.
A return winner in a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 16, he was favored at even-money to register his fourth career Grade I victory.
The J. Kirk and Judy Robison colorbearer took his usual spot up front and led his six rivals through much-easier-than-anticipated early fractions of :22.76 and :45.50. He cornered four wide and allowed GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) an inviting opening along the rail as they turned for home.
Jackie's Warrior was still cruising though, and was ridden with confidence by Joel Rosario down the lane en route to a four-length victory over Reinvestment Risk (Upstart). Aloha West was third.
“First, I can't say enough about the [J. Kirk and Judy] Robisons putting a champion stallion back in training and letting us enjoy him another year,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He's now a Grade I winner at two, three and four. And, the style in which he won today was just beautiful. I thought Joel [Rosario] said it best when we were in paddock just watching him standing there. He said, 'They don't come along like this all the time, do they' and they don't. When you're the speed of the race, you just stay on the path you want. He's older, more confident and stronger.”
Rosario added, “It seemed better to keep him off the rail. It seemed to be a better place for him. He's an amazing horse. The speed that he is able to give you. He is just a strong horse, to get out of there [at the start]–like a quarter horse, and to keep going with that speed. He's just there for you whenever you ask.”
A winner of the GII Pat Day Mile S. on this card 12 months ago, his championship season was topped by a memorable win over the talented Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga. The $95,000 KEESEP yearling also captured the GII Amsterdam S. and GII Gallant Bob S. and was a painful second in the GI Woody Stephens S. Jackie's Warrior, also a two-time winner at the highest level at two, exited a disappointing sixth-place finish as the heavy favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with a bone chip in his knee.
Pedigree Notes:
The future Spendthrift Farm Jackie's Warrior is one of four top-level scorers for Maclean's Music. He is the lone graded winner for broodmare sire A.P. Five Hundred. Jackie's Warrior's dam Unicorn Girl (A.P. Five Hundred) summoned $850,000 from Arthur Hoyeau at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Her now-2-year-old colt by American Pharoah preceded her in the ring, bringing $600,000 from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Unicorn Girl also has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Lenni Girl (Candy Ride {Arg}). She failed to get in foal to Into Mischief for 2021, but has a filly of this year by the leading sire.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 5-7, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.95, ft.
1–JACKIE'S WARRIOR, 123, c, 4, by Maclean's Music
1st Dam: Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
2nd Dam: Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
3rd Dam: Horah for the Lady, by Rahy
($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $455,700. Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter, 14-10-1-1, $2,309,664. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Reinvestment Risk, 123, c, 4, Upstart–Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg). *TDN Rising Star* ($140,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $147,000.
3–Aloha West, 123, h, 5, Hard Spun–Island Bound, by Speightstown. ($160,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Manfuso & Katharine M. Voss (MD); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $73,500.
Margins: 4, 1, 4 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 4.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Sir Alfred James, Mind Control, Long Range Toddy, Prevalence. Scratched: Cezanne.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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