h. allen jerkens stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jack Christopher to Cut Back in Distance for Allen Jerkens

Jack Christopher (Munnings), who suffered his first career loss when third in his two-turn debut in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park Saturday, is expected to cut back to one turn in the Aug. 27 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga next time out.

“The horse ran really well and I thought he had a good trip,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He got a little quick on the final turn when they moved from [the half-mile in] :46 into [three-quarters in] 1:09. That probably emptied him a little bit. But all in all, it looked like it was a little too far. I was a little disappointed that he couldn't kick on through the lane, but he tried hard. We just shipped him up to Saratoga. As long as he comes out of the race okay, I'll cut him back and point to a race like the Allen Jerkens.”

Despite the Haskell loss, Brown enjoyed a productive day at the Jersey Shore Saturday, winning four straight graded races on the card.

“I was proud of all the horses and my team to have them all ready on a big day like that,” Brown said. “There's a lot of moving parts to get it done and they did fabulous. I'm proud of them all.”

Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) earned his first U.S. victory following a pair of Grade I placings in the GI United Nations S. and could make his next start in the Aug. 27 GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational.

“He got the trip we were looking for and he's been a work in progress. He looks to be continually improving and he finished off his race well on Saturday,” Brown said. “He shipped up here today, so we'll see how he bounces out of it, but surely, I would like to point to [the Sword Dancer].”

Brown added that Search Results (Flatter), winner of the GIII Molly Pitcher S., could be “possible” for the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S.

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Abaan Looks to Stand Out

Abaan (Will Take Charge) looks to build upon his recent success with a bid in the GII Mac Diarmida S. over 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding, trained by Todd Pletcher, was last seen a clear winner over fellow Mac Diarmida entry Temple (Temple City) in the GIII W. L. McKnight S. Jan. 29. He also previously won the H. Allen Jerkens S. over this course in December.

Temple, breaking from post eight under Jose Ortiz, could be right there with a good trip, as the 6-year-old gelding has an ultra-consistent record, including a third last October in the 1 1/8-mile GIII Knickerbocker S. at Belmont Park. He was claimed by these connections for $80,000 in his next start, finishing second in a Nov. 19 Aqueduct optional claimer, and was third in another Big A optional claimer Dec. 5.

Though the elder statesman of the field at seven, Fantasioso (Arg) (Strategic Prince {GB}) has the class to keep up with his younger challengers. With jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard, Fantasioso posted a dead-heat victory in the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S. over 1 1/2 miles at Sam Houston Jan. 30.

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Abaan Controls Pace, Romps To Easy Victory In Two-Mile H. Allen Jerkens

Alex Daigneault and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Abaan set all the fractions while racing loose on the lead before drawing clear to a three-length victory in Friday's $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old son of Will Take Charge, who galloped the first mile in 1:44.56, ran the two miles of the turf stakes named in memory of the legendary Hall of Fame trainer in 3:24.24 under Luis Saez.

“Today, he controlled the pace and when I came into the stretch, I had a lot of horse,” Saez said. “It was a long distance, but every step he felt comfortable. He just did it pretty easy.

The 7-5 favorite, coming off a dominating 1 3/8-mile optional claiming allowance victory at Aqueduct, was victorious in his stakes debut in the Jerkens.

Ajourneytofreedom, the 8-5 second choice ridden by Paco Lopez, chased Abaan throughout the two miles and had to settle for second. Fantasioso checked in third after racing in third through most of the race.

Who's Hot: Jockey Chantal Sutherland and trainer Jorge Delgado teamed for a double with King Cairo ($7.20) in Race 4 and Yes I'm a Beast ($3.40) in Race 7.

Trainer Armando De La Cerda saddled a pair or winners: Science Friction ($17.40) in Race 2 and California Frolic ($16.40) in Race 9.

Paco Lopez rode a pair of winners: Thelastbulletsmine ($6.60) in Race 3 and Lookinlikeaqueen ($11) in Race 6.

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Late-Developing Abaan Takes On Maker Quartet In Friday’s H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alex Daigneault's Abaan will be outnumbered in the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at Gulfstream Park Friday when the Todd Pletcher-trained 4-year-old gelding will take on four Mike Maker-trained rivals in the two-mile turf race honoring the memory of the legendary Hall of Fame trainer.

The late-developing son of Will Take Charge will also be making his stakes debut while conceding experience to the well-tried Maker trainees in the Race 10 feature on a 10-race program.

Following a three-race juvenile campaign with a pair of runner-up finishes at Churchill Downs, Abaan has demonstrated marked improvement this year after being privately purchased and transferred to Pletcher. Since switching from dirt to turf, the Kentucky-bred has won twice and finished second twice. In his most recent start, Abaan register a front-running two-length victory in a 1 3/8-mile optional claiming allowance at Aqueduct Nov. 14.

Luis Saez has the call on Abaan.

Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher's Ajourneytofreedom tops the Maker contingent. The multiple graded stakes-placed son of Hard Spun finished fifth in the John's Call and won a 1 ½-mile optional claiming allowance at Saratoga in his two most recent non-graded stakes starts.

Paco Lopez is scheduled to ride the 4-year-old gelding for the first time in the Jerkens.

Michael Ryan's Bluegrass Parkway, who finished third in the 1 ½-mile Point of Entry at Belmont Park last time out; Three Diamonds Farm's Jarreau, who finished second behind Abaan in the Nov. 14 optional claiming allowance; and Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher's Malthael, a 1 ½-mile optional claiming allowance winner at Keeneland two starts back; will also represent the Maker Stable Saturday.

Bloom Racing Stable and trainer Ignacio Correas IV's Fantasioso looms as a strong contender looking to his second-place finish in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) in June. Rice Racing's On Base, trainer Marcy Brooks' Cheyenne's Colonel, San Jose de Ecuador and Luis Duco Stable Inc.'s Nixon Joy, round out the field.

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