The Jerkens Memorial (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 24, 2019
After finishing second in the Grade 2 Amsterdam here last month, Blowberg seemed as though he would be one of the horses to beat in The Jerkens Memorial. However, based on the Pick ‘em results, others seemed to be the choice of those participating it. While we did not have him on top, he was one of our picks, and figured to have a strong race. He would run a little more off the pace in this race then he did in the Amsterdam, which would do him well. The winning trainer is Estero Farms, and the winning jockey is L Contreras. Each just became first time winners in the race. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:21.49, the third quickest in the stake’s history. Let’s take a look at it!
(1/4 Mile- :22.99)- From his outside starting post, Cherokee People takes the early lead for South Beach Racing, but not in too quick of a time. Also breaking well and running near him early would be Rainstorm, who was our pick to win, for Fractious. Candlestick is third for Mb Stables, a half length back, and along his inside is Traveling Band for D J C Racing Stables. In the third lane here is another Mb Stables runner in Made Out Of Glass. These five pull away from the others by a length and half. Further back in the field, we have a three wide group consisting of, from inside to outside, A Beagle Named Boo (John Henry), Lots Of Pride (Spankys Barn), and our eventual winner, Blowberg, for Estero Farms. Russian Dictator ran by himself, but four wide, for Gdp Inc. Trailing were Marx On The Moon (Court Jester Racing), Fahrenheit (Mb Stables), and Kill Command (Fractious).
(½ Mile- :45.88)- The next quarter mile does not see much change in the action, except for the fact that Cherokee People has opened up a two length advantage over the rest of the field. His closest pursuers are still Rainstorm, Candlestick, and Traveling Band. Further back in the field, you could see that Blowberg was gearing up for his move as the run around the turn began. He had not started it quite yet, but if you’ve watched enough of these races, you knew what was about to happen. Positioned nicely in the money lane, Estero Farms had to be a happy camper right here.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Cherokee People is valiantly holding on at this point, and actually doing a pretty good job of it. His lead is a length and half over Candlestick, who was become a little better now then Rainstorm and Traveling Band. Those two are part of a six wide cluster of horses battling for third at this point. Blowberg was exactly where you want to be in this type of situation in the game, in the outside lane, and gaining ground. He would need to make up three more lengths. The other three in this group were A Beagle Named Boo, Made Out Of Glass, and Lots Of Pride. As for the other four horses, they were also neatly lined up, four wide, a length right behind them. Marx On The Moon and Russian Dictator had the best lanes on the track among this group, but Kill Command and Fahrenheit were in striking range, too. One of the cluster HRP finishes was certainly shaping up!
(Finish- 1:21.49)- In the stretch, Blowberg had to run hard with every stride because Cherokee People was absolutely not going away. He would be resilient, and earn the win he narrowly missed out on here last month, with a half length win. Cherokee People did a great job in the stretch, and South Beach Racing should be thrilled with the desire that he showed (except maybe in the very last strides) to hold on to second over a closing nicely Marx On The Moon. Candlestick gets the fourth place check, and from there, throw a blanket over the rest of the field, save Rainstorm, they were so close. Rainstorm was a length behind the wall in front. The official remaining running order will read as A Beagle Named Boo, Russian Dictator, Made Out Of Glass, Lots Of Pride, Kill Command, Fahrenheit, Traveling Band, and Rainstorm.
About the winner: Blowberg, trained by Estero Farms, and ridden to victory by L Contreras, is a three year old gelding by Laffin to Mia, and is out of Marocaine Lane. He was bred in New York by Luz International as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Estero Farms in private sales, after one race, for $120.000 in October 2018. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 11 starts, his third stake win, and first that is graded. His career earnings are now $597.200.
Track: Fast
Time: :224 :454 1:091 1:212
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 7 – 12 Paid 1,207.80
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 12 – 11 Paid 1,545.30
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
