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Jack Christopher Back To Sprint Distance In Saturday’s Allen Jerkens

Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher, who suffered his first loss last out in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 23 at Monmouth Park, will return to the sprint distance in search of a third Grade 1 triumph in Saturday's $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Jack Christopher's Haskell loss came in his two-turn debut going nine furlongs over the Monmouth Park main track. He stalked in third just one length off the pace and advanced with purpose into the turn to take a narrow advantage at the stretch call, but weakened under Jose Ortiz and settled for third two lengths behind the victorious Cyberknife and runner-up Taiba.

The lightly-raced son of Munnings posted four perfect starts from last August to this June, beginning with an eye-catching debut at the Spa by 8 3/4 lengths sprinting six furlongs. He followed with his graded stakes debut and first start against winners in the Grade 1 Champagne in October at Belmont where he bounded home a clear 2 3/4-length winner over Commandperformance to cap his juvenile season.

Jack Christopher began the year with a 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the May 7 Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs before delivering his best performance yet in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun on June 11 at Belmont Park. There, he stalked just behind pacesetter Provocateur before unleashing a devastating turn of foot around the turn and coasting home an easy 10-length winner going the H. Allen Jerkens distance over the Belmont main track. The effort garnered a field-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

Ortiz retains the mount from post 6.

Brown will also saddle maiden winner Accretive, who nearly defeated Gunite last out in the Grade 2 Amsterdam on July 31 at the Spa. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the gelded son of Practical Joke was an impressive winner on debut by 5 3/4 lengths sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on June 26 at Belmont. He followed with a gutsy neck loss in the Amsterdam after closing from 3 1/2 lengths off the pace and coming up just shy to earn a 101 Beyer.

The $180,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase will exit post 9 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Gunite returns to the scene of his Grade 1 Hopeful victory in search of another top-level score for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. A son of Winchell-owned and Asmussen-trained 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, Gunite returned to graded form with gusto last time out in the Grade 2 Amsterdam, earning a neck victory over the aforementioned Accretive in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

The Amsterdam effort came on the heels of a win in the Maxfield in July at Churchill Downs and a runner-up effort in a first-level allowance in June over the Louisville oval. Last year, Gunite posted a strong juvenile campaign in which he made six starts, highlighted by his 5 3/4-length win in the Hopeful and a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. He closed out the year with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Champagne, but made the trip to California for Breeders' Cup week not to race, but to lend his professionalism in the mornings to stablemate and fellow Gun Runner prodigy Echo Zulu, who went on to capture the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Asmussen praised Gunite's mettle, noting his ability to travel well and give his all in every race.

“Gunite last year not only won the Hopeful, he went to California simply to be Echo Zulu's workmate. He's as blue collar as you get, just as he's royalty,” Asmussen said, with a laugh. “He's a Grade 1-winning son of Gun Runner and he [rewarded] us with his run in the Amsterdam. He's got his work cut out for him, but the one that isn't worried about the work is Gunite.”

Asmussen said Gunite is a special horse to him, being the first son of his esteemed trainee that he started. He fondly recalled the juvenile campaign that began with a third sprinting five furlongs over a sloppy and sealed Churchill Downs main track last April.

“For Gun Runner and what a great sire he is, we didn't know that [at the time]. Gunite was the first Gun Runner we started, and at a distance that was maybe a bit short for him,” Asmussen said. “But he was ridden along hard early, and for it to be his fifth race to win the Hopeful and come back [to win the Amsterdam], you don't get away with that unless you're different, a separate horse as far as mentally and physically than the others. I will always speak of Gunite with that sort of affection.”

Gunite will exit post 8 with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.

Grade 3 Indiana Derby winner Actuator ships in for conditioner Michael McCarthy after making the grade in the 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Owned by Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rags Racing Stable, Rick Howard and Gavin O'Connor, the son of Bodemeister finished third in his first two outings as a juvenile for previous trainer Rodolphe Brisset and was transferred to McCarthy for his sophomore season. He graduated at third asking in a June 8 maiden at Churchill by an impressive 7 1/4 lengths.

“He had really trained well on the dirt leading up to that maiden victory,” said McCarthy. “I thought he would run well, but he obviously exceeded expectations.”

The maiden effort was enough to convince McCarthy to send the bay colt into graded company for his first outing against winners, a move that proved to be the right one after he posted a determined half-length score over Best Actor, who returned to win the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Tuesday at Parx Racing.

“The horse had trained well leading up to the Indiana Derby. He came out of it well and has been very sharp ever since,” said McCarthy. “Wheeling back to seven-eighths I think should be no problem for him. It's obviously a big step up in class but I think the horse deserves a shot at something like this.”

There were a few tense moments in the Indiana Derby when Actuator drifted out at the sixteenth pole and brushed with Best Actor, whose rider, Florent Geroux, lodged an objection after the race. Actuator had also broken inwardly at the start and squeezed Best Actor to his inside.

McCarthy said he does not anticipate Actuator to have any issues in the Allen Jerkens.

“He kind of broke inward a touch and it might have been not quite as serious as some may have thought,” said McCarthy. “It's just one of those things in racing. I don't think it's a real issue with him.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez picks up the mount from post 4.

Calumet Farm's homebred Happy Jack returns to stakes company after two solid efforts in allowance optional claiming company for conditioner Doug O'Neill. A son of Oxbow, Happy Jack was a close third last out in an optional claimer on July 24 at Ellis Park, defeated a neck after closing from last-of-8. He won a seven-furlong first level allowance on June 19 at Churchill Downs by a half-length in his first start at the sprint distance since his debut win sprinting six furlongs in January at Santa Anita.

Happy Jack competed in the Triple Crown this spring and earned graded placings when third in both the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April and Grade 2 San Felipe at the same track in March. He went on to finish 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and eighth in the Grade 1 Preakness.

Flavien Prat will ride from post 5.

Completing the field are stakes-winner Conagher [post 1, Joe Rocco, Jr.] for conditioner Michael Tomlinson; dual graded stakes-placed Runninsonofagun [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche], who races with blinkers on for trainer John Toscano, Jr ;Grade 3-placed Howling Time [post 3, Joe Talamo] for trainer Dale Romans; and the twice-winning Mike Maker trainee Totalizer [post 7, Luis Saez].

The H. Allen Jerkens Memorial is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's blockbuster card, which features the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers in Race 11. Also featured are the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa, the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign and the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational – a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. First post on the 13-race card is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Clairiere Streaks Into Personal Ensign For Another Matchup With Malathaat

This spring, Stonestreet Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Clairiere was an underdog when facing reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Malathaat, never having finished ahead of her in four matchups last year. But this year, Clairiere has gotten the better of her familiar rival twice and will look to do so once again in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign, a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Clairiere arrives from a strong victory over Malathaat in the Grade 2 Shuvee on July 24 at the Spa. There, she stalked the pace set by Exotic West and put her head in front at the stretch call before pulling away to a 1 1/2-length victory. It was the second graded score of the year for Clairiere, building upon a Grade 1 triumph in the Ogden Phipps on June 11 at Belmont Park where she held off a late bid from Malathaat to post a head victory at odds of 9-2.

Along with a sublime racing resume, Clairiere boasts a regal pedigree, sired by the Asmussen-trained and Stonestreet-owned Hall of Famer Curlin, and out of multiple Grade 1-winner Cavorting, who pulled off the Ogden Phipps/Personal Ensign double in 2016 to cap her stellar career.

Asmussen said Clairiere shows the same “ability” and professionalism on the track as her sire.

“A great mind on them and both were intelligent horses that understand what all the work is for,” said Asmussen.

Clairiere has earned her way to the pinnacle of her division, racing in top company throughout last year with strong efforts in Grade 1 events in the Coaching Club American Oaks [third], the Alabama [second] and the Breeders' Cup Distaff, where she finished a close fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length. Her sophomore campaign was highlighted by a breakout performance in the Grade 1 Cotillion in September at Parx Racing where she closed from five lengths off the pace to score a 2 1/2-length victory over subsequent Grade 1-winner Obligatory.

Clairiere's abilities will be tested once again in the Personal Ensign as she faces a loaded field that includes two champions. In addition to the aforementioned Malathaat, she'll face the reigning Champion Older Dirt Female Letruska, who was the quick pacesetter in the Ogden Phipps and faded to be a well-beaten fifth-of-5.

Asmussen said he expects Clairiere to deliver another strong performance, but acknowledged the class of her rivals.

“She's racing royalty and she's in great form,” Asmussen said. “She's capable. It's within her and she continues to get better. I expect another huge race against great mares in the Personal Ensign. Letruska and Malathaat are as good as race mares can be.”

Clairiere will exit post 3 with regular pilot Joel Rosario in the irons.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is hopeful Shadwell Stable's Malathaat will bounce back from a disappointing runner-up effort behind Clairiere in the Grade 2 Shuvee last out.

The day of the Shuvee was particularly hot and humid, which Pletcher blames for the dullness Malathaat showed in the paddock and while warming up for the race. She broke well under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, but settled in third-of-4 before making a mild run down the stretch and coming up 1 1/2 lengths shy.

Pletcher said he does not believe first-time blinkers were part of the issue for Malathaat and that they will stay on for the Personal Ensign.

“I don't think she reacted well to the heat that day. That's the first time I felt like she didn't handle the conditions,” said Pletcher. “She was very quiet in the paddock and didn't seem herself. Johnny commented that she was kind of lethargic in the post parade. She ran, but I don't feel that she ran to her capabilities. Hopefully she can rebound and come with her best performance ever.”

Malathaat, another daughter of Curlin who was also bred by Stonestreet, put together a remarkable sophomore campaign that earned her Champion status, beginning with a head score in the Grade 1 Ashland in April at Keeneland. She followed with a determined neck triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks over returning foe Search Results two starts before dazzling in the Grade 1 Alabama at the Spa. She closed out the year with a close third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff where she was defeated just a half-length by Marche Lorraine in a thrilling renewal.

This year, the bay filly began her campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare in April at Keeneland before her runner-up finishes to Clairiere in the Ogden Phipps and Shuvee. Pletcher said that Malathaat has appeared to improve physically since last year.

“I think she's really filled out and developed very nicely this year,” Pletcher said. “She's held her weight throughout the campaign and she seems to be a bigger, stronger version of her 3-year-old self.”

Velazquez, aboard for nine of her 11 lifetime outings, retains the mount from post 5.

St. George Stable's five-time Grade 1-winning homebred Letruska will try to defend her title in this event as she enters from her pacesetting fifth in the Ogden Phipps. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, the speedy Letruska was sent to the front by Jose Ortiz and set sharp fractions over the fast main track before tiring and fading to be well-beaten by Clairiere.

The Ogden Phipps performance was an outlier for Letruska, who has shown brilliance since coming to America from Mexico in 2019. A daughter of Super Saver, Letruska picked up her first graded score in the 2020 Grade 3 Shuvee at the Spa and followed two starts later with another Grade 3 score in the Rampart in December at Gulfstream Park.

Last year was a year to remember for Gutierrez, who watched Letruska dominate in four Grade 1 events at four racetracks, including Oaklawn's Apple Blossom Handicap, the Ogden Phipps at Belmont, the Personal Ensign at the Spa and the Spinster at Keeneland. Despite a distant off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Letruska was awarded Champion Older Dirt Female for her near-perfect campaign.

This year, Letruska boasts wins in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream and a repeat win in the Apple Blossom, an effort in which she bested Clairiere by 1 1/4 lengths. Letruska has been training strongly at Churchill Downs leading up to the Personal Ensign, posting four bullet works since July 10 and breezing one mile in 1:40.80 on August 4 at the Louisville oval. Her latest move was a half-mile in 48 seconds flat on August 19.

Jose Ortiz has the call again from the inside post.

Klaravich Stable's Grade 1-winner Search Results enters for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown from a tidy three-length score last out in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 23 at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old daughter of Flatter was a stubborn third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps as she was impressively able to keep close to the blazing fractions set by Letruska and gained a slight lead at the stretch call before tiring and finishing third, defeated just 2 1/4 lengths. Her other win this year was a three-length score in the Grade 2 Ruffian in May at Belmont.

Last year, Search Results boasted a strong campaign in which she went 4-for-6 with victories in her debut at Gulfstream Park, the Busher Invitational and Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont. She finished second by a neck to Malathaat in the Kentucky Oaks and third in the Grade 1 Longines Test behind the victorious Bella Sofia.

Search Results will exit post 2 in rein to Flavien Prat.

Completing the field is Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Crazy Beautiful, who has run honest races against some of the best in her division and will look to score her first Grade 1 victory for trainer Kenny McPeek.

A 4-year-old daughter of Liam's Map, Crazy Beautiful was last seen finishing a game third behind Clairiere and Malathaat in the Shuvee after briefly holding a half-length advantage at the three-quarters call. Earlier this year, she scored a stakes victory in the Latonia at Turfway Park two starts before a battle with Army Wife in the Lady Jacqueline at Thistledown where she came up three-quarters of a length shy on June 25.

Crazy Beautiful picked up three graded wins as a sophomore, taking the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks at its namesake track, the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. The gray filly's best finish at Grade 1 level was a second to stablemate Simply Ravishing as a juvenile in the 2020 Alcibiades at Keeneland.

Julien Leparoux has the call from post 4.

The Personal Ensign is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's blockbuster card, which features the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers in Race 11. Also featured are the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa, the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational – a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. First post on the 13-race card is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

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Reigning Champion Jackie’s Warrior Continues To Chase History In Forego

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning Champion Sprinter Jackie's Warrior, who raced his way into history last month, will continue his assault on the Saratoga Race Course record books when he goes for a sixth career stakes victory over a track where he is undefeated in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Forego.

The 43rd running of the seven-furlong Forego for 4-year-olds and up is one of six graded-stakes, five of them Grade 1, worth $4.1 million in purses on a blockbuster 13-race program highlighted by the 153rd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers.

Jackie's Warrior won as he pleased in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt July 30, a two-length triumph that made him the first horse in Saratoga's 154-year history to win a Grade 1 race for three consecutive years following the Hopeful in 2020 and H. Allen Jerkens in a memorable 2021 throwdown with Life Is Good.

Four weeks later, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen continues to be awed by the 4-year-old Maclean's Music colt that has won each of his four starts this year, all in graded-stakes, including a fifth Grade 1 in the May 7 Churchill Downs.

“You look at his record this year, he's 4-for-4 in some serious races in non-threatening styles, watching the races. I can't imagine a horse going through a year with that being how hard you're running, but to this point that's what we've witnessed,” Asmussen said. “He's immortal. He's the only racehorse ever to win a Grade 1 three years in a row at Saratoga. The only horse, ever, at Saratoga. They've got a few decent pictures on the wall around here.

“What has he done? Something nobody else has. That was the part that was unbelievable. It's overwhelming. What's that mean? It's something you really can't wrap your head around when you're growing up in a racing family and what Saratoga is and who has run here,” he added. “It's amazing. With that being said, that will not give him a head start on Saturday. That's the great thing about horse racing. You've got to do it again.”

Jackie's Warrior became a stakes winner in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in 2020, his second career start, and splashed to an easy triumph in last summer's Grade 2 Amsterdam prior to the Jerkens. According to Equibase statistics which date to 1976, Jackie's Warrior and Irish Linnet (1990-95) are tied with five career stakes wins at Saratoga. The leader is Irish Linnet's one-time Leo O'Brien-trained stablemate, Fourstardave, with six between 1987 and 1995.

“I'm very excited for another chance to run him in a Grade 1 at Saratoga,” Asmussen said. “I'm very nervous. He's too good to be true. Just having him in training this year has been an unbelievable gift that we've been given. I feel the responsibility of it and want it to go well for him and all of his fans. He's been excellent for so long, and you look at him as a sprinter, the mass and body that he carries – it's unbelievable. It really is. For a big horse as fast as he is, with some age on him, the energy he still shows is incredible.”

Joel Rosario, who earned his first Eclipse Award as champion jockey in 2021, has been aboard Jackie's Warrior since the Saratoga Special and will get a leg up for the 16th straight race on Saturday. Asmussen credited Rosario with being an integral part of the colt's success.

“I think Joel's style of riding him has led to his great attitude and his willingness to continue to run at this level so many times,” Asmussen said. “For me, I think Joel's best attribute is what a great passenger he is. He doesn't seem to get in their way.

“I think the issue is why had nobody ever won three Grade 1s before, and what would be the difference. I think that [Rosario] deserves some credit, doing enough with him to win without taking any future races out of him,” he added. “With that being said, I don't think there is any two harder races than I've had a horse run than his Pat Day Mile or his Allen Jerkens. His visually easy victories have also been backed up by some very good duels.”

Rosario and Jackie's Warrior will break from post position 3 in a field of seven as the 124-pound topweight for the Forego, which is expected to be his penultimate start before standing stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2023 following the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint November 5 at Keeneland.

“He's had an amazing year. All four of his victories have looked the same. I don't know if I've been as nervous running a horse in a long time as I was last time he ran,” Asmussen said. “When I was made aware no horse had ever won a Grade 1 three years in a row at Saratoga and with him being such a special horse to us, you wanted to get that accomplished, and he did.

“Now we go back into the Forego and you wonder, 'Have we done enough with him?' Trainers are always concerned about something, but we realize how fortunate we are to have him to run this year at all,” he added. “On the racetrack, he's a really beautiful horse. He's got a lot of presence about him. Everybody notices him when we take him to the track. He's just been that kind of horse for the barn and we are so fortunate and blessed to have him.”

Among the rivals for Jackie's Warrior is the pair of Baby Yoda and Cody's Wish for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Pantofel Stable and Jarold Zaro's Baby Yoda enters the Forego off a three-length optional claiming allowance triumph at the course and distance July 16. Three-for-three lifetime at Saratoga, he ran fourth to Jackie's Warrior, beaten 12 1/4-lengths, in the Grade 2 True North June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He likes this track. He likes the distance,” Mott said. “Look, if Jackie's Warrior runs his race we're probably all running for second. They have to run the race.”

Godolphin's Cody's Wish, a homebred son of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin, has put together back-to-back wins – a game neck victory in the July 4 Hanshin at Churchill that followed a five-length score in the Grade 3 Westchester May 7 at Belmont. All five of his career wins have come in as many tries at one mile, and he will be sprinting for the first time since running third in a maiden special weight last September at Saratoga.

“He should be able to handle it fine,” Mott said. “He's gotten better and more consistent. He's been running really well. No complaints about him. We've always thought he was a nice horse. We'll see how seven-eighths suits him. I think he'll be OK.”

Baby Yoda drew post position 1 with Jose Ortiz, while Cody's Wish and Junior Alvarado will break from post position 5.

John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock's Pipeline beat Cody's Wish to break his maiden last year and is seeking his first stakes win in the Forego. Third by a neck as the favorite in the seven-furlong Perryville at Keeneland and last of eight in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile to cap 2021, the 4-year-old son of champion sprinter Speighstown won a one-mile allowance April 22 at Aqueduct and was second by 1 3/4 lengths last out to Chad Brown-trained stablemate Highly Motivated in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup July 23.

Irad Oritz Jr. has the call on Pipeline from post position 6.

Dublin Fjord Stables, Race Point Stables, Kevin Hilbert and Thomas O'Keefe's Drafted will be making his seventh straight stakes start in the Forego for trainer David Duggan. The 8-year-old Field Commission gelding captured the Grade 3 Runhappy by a length May 14 at Belmont and the Mr. Prospector June 4 at Monmouth before having his win streak snapped when second to Whereshetoldmetogo in the Alapocas Run July 2 at Delaware Park – all sprinting six furlongs. Drafted owns two wins going seven-eighths, including the Grade 3 Toboggan February 5 at Aqueduct.

Luis Rodriguez Castro rides Drafted from post position 2.

Ten Strike Racing's Kneedeepinsnow will take another shot at Jackie's Warrior after closing to be second in the Vanderbilt. Since being claimed for $80,000 by trainer Matt Shirer out of an April 29 win at Keeneland, the Flat Out gelding has placed in three consecutive stakes, running second to Isolate in the June 11 Work All Week at Hawthorne and third to 2021 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West in the July 2 Kelly's Landing at Churchill Downs.

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the riding assignment on Kneedeepinsnow from post position 7.

Completing the field is Alonzo Racing, Michael Bagnoli and Jackie Bagnoli's Three Two Zone, a 4-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense that will be making his first stakes start since running third in the seven-furlong City of Laurel last November at Laurel Park. He is also coming out of a win going the Forego distance at Saratoga in a third-level optional claiming allowance July 17.

Dylan Davis gets the return call on Three Two Zone, who drew post position 4.

The Forego is slated as Race 5 on a program that begins at 11:35 a.m. Eastern. The Runhappy Travers on FOX, with the Travers slated as Race 11 at 5:44 p.m., will air as part of a 90-minute broadcast from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

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17-Length Maiden Winner American Blaze Will Target Monmouth’s Sapling Stakes

There was plenty for trainer Ben Colebrook to like about American Blaze's dazzling 17-length win in his career debut on July 30 at Ellis Park, but there was also one question left unanswered by the performance.

Just how good is the Kentucky-bred son of American Freedom?

Colebrook hopes to have a better idea following American Blaze's race in Saturday's 88th edition of the Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park. The Sapling, which carries a $200,000 purse, is a two-turn mile on the main track.

“You never expect them to win by 17 lengths,” said Colebrook. “I thought he could win the race. It was a restricted maiden race for horses that had sold at auction for less than $40,000.

“He obviously passed that test but the water will get a little deeper in the Sapling. But he is coming into the race in good order and I expect him to put in a good effort.”

American Blaze, owned by Terry Hamilton and Murray House, came into Colebrook's care shortly after selling for $27,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Company March Sale of 2-year-olds in training five months ago.

“The first time I worked him he worked really well at Keeneland,” said Colebrook. “Every time after that when he worked he worked well.”

Working well is one thing. Making a breathtaking move like American Blaze did into the turn in his first start is quite another. The footnotes in the race chart noted the colt “swept past them with a quick blitz.”

“Around the turn he was going so easily that (jockey) Colby Hernandez let him out a little more and he quickly put the race away,” said Colebrook. “It was just a matter of how much he would win by after that. It was a very impressive move on the turn because he was wider than the other horses. But remember he was running in a restricted-type race so it was almost like beating state-breds.”

That doesn't mean Colebrook is diminishing the performance. He just wants to see more, especially since a potential target for the colt is the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 8

“Obviously, if he runs well in this race that would set him up for the Keeneland race,” said Colebrook. “He would have to win this race to think about that. So we'll have to wait and see.”

Hernandez will come in for the ride, with American Blaze due to ship in from Kentucky on Friday morning.

For Colebrook, this will be his second-ever appearance at Monmouth Park as a trainer, though he said he was at the Shore track many times as an assistant to Christophe Clement.

Colebrook sent out Club Car to a second-place finish in the Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 2, with the filly beaten a head by Edie Meeny Miny Mo. His only other prior Monmouth Park starter was Fancy Dress Party, who won the 2019 Miss Woodford Stakes. Colebrook was not physically at Monmouth Park that day, however.

He will be there on Saturday, and the one variable he is not worried about is American Blaze's willingness to go long. The Ellis Park win was at seven furlongs.

“I don't see two turns as a problem,” said Colebrook. “It's not like he was at 5½ furlongs and you are stretching him out to a mile.”

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