The 19th Running of the G1 Jerkens Memorial
August 28, 2021 15:20
SAR Race #8 $500.000 7 Furlongs
3YOs 122 Lbs
Track Record-1:20.24 (Another BomBay-2004)
Stakes Record-1:21.28 (Fox News-2018)
An interesting field of twelve has signed-on for the $500.000 G1 Jerkens Memorial at SAR on Saturday. Confirmed sprinters, horses cutting back, and horses stepping-up in class have decided to cast their lot for this seven furlong prize. Looking back, Mb Stables (2012, 2016) is the only two-time winning trainer in this event and I. Ortiz Jr (2013, 2018) is the only pilot to guide two winners home. While the big barn sends three out this year, Ortiz Jr will be watching from the backside. Here’s the 2021 field for the $500.000 G1 Jerkens Memorial:
#1 Tko (Fractious/A. Cedillo): Rail-horse spent the spring on G1 KYD trail before competing in the first two legs of this year’s TC series. Came home 4th, beaten a length, last month in the G1 Crosby going six furlongs after a non-effort in the G3 Dwyer. Plenty of past success and back-class, but needs to show he still has the desire to compete at this level.
#2 Papa Nature (Night Rider Stables/P. Lopez): Two pony comes here after a nice score to stop a three-race losing streak. Has messed with going longer, but appears to be at home going around one-turn. Has yet to beat these types, but he’s been close enough to deserve a chance in here. Needs to show more, but he can compete for a slice (or more) if he finds it.
#3 Smokin Luka (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez): Three horse will feel right at home with two stablemates starting just to his outside. Legit excuses for his last two (12-draw in G1 Crosby; mud in G3 OH Derby), but he’s been an inconsistent sort all of his career. His “A” game has been brilliant, but when he’s bad, he’s real bad. Those types tend to burn money, but there is no denying the talent. His best makes him formidable, but tough to determine when he will show it.
#4 The Captain (Mb Stables/S.X. Bridgmohan): Plenty of comfort with stablemates on either side and comes here sporting a three-race winning streak. Only the debut in the slop came at a sprint distance, so will be interesting to see how this seven panels suits him. When this trainer gets them figured-out, they usually string good performances together so he must be respected; however, not sure he handles some of these who have proven form playing the sprint game.
#5 Golden Treasure (Mb Stables/E. Jaramillo): Drew the short straw in the barn, but this post shouldn’t hinder his efforts as he looks to sweep the sophomore sprint stakes at SAR after gutting-out the G2 Amsterdam. Unlike his stablemate to his immediate inside, this guy is a sprinter through-and-through. Should be able to work-out a desirable trip and seems primed for a big effort. “House jock” taking the mount here may be telling.
#6 Roundhead (Riggins Racing/L. Saez): Last horse of the inner-half of the draw made it two-in-a-row in last month’s SALW score. That was first run for new outfit after breaking his maiden for the $50.000 tag. This will be his 2nd try vs winners, but this is beyond a massive step up in class. Look for him to blast from the start and take them as far as he can.
#7 Ziconic (Smokey Stover/D. Davis): Homebred winner of his last four over distances from 61/2 to 11/8 running on fast and muddy tracks alike will start from post seven. Litmus test in this, his first time against graded company; has shown speed in all six starts this year and will need to use enough of it here to clear at least half the field to get any kind of forwardly-placed trip. Trainer is known for his patient-handling and he has brought this one through the ranks, still, this is a big ask.
#8 Starboy At A Cross (Rock Creek/J. Alvarado): Shared a win in the G3 Barrera before disasterous trip north of the border. If that WO effort can be forgiven, should be able to get close enough to the rail, while not being too far back, to get his preferred trip, but it is tough to pass that many horses at this level with the current state of affairs at HRP. Still, there’s a lot of speed signed on for this and if he negotiates the traffic he could be doing his best running when the money is on the line.
#9 Rullah Party Crystal (Martyparty/A. Beschizza): Nine horse shared two straight wins in the Eddie Stakes and G3 Barrera before two off-the-board finishes in his latest tries. Trip will be very important given this post and his preferred running style as he looks to make one run. Has to get back on track in a big way to get the money here, but this conditioner is not in this for the participation trophy.
#10 Dime Defense (Asgar/T. Gaffalione): Breaking from post ten with a local two-race winning streak vs NY-bred ALW types at this trip this guy has “come to hand” quite nicely this summer. Not many horses win two races at a single SAR meet regardless of the competition and this barn has had an excellent meeting overall. Staying with the positives, keeps Gaffalione in the saddle for a third straight race; however, much deeper water here and this draw does him no favors. Lots of momentum here and would not be a total shock, all things considered, but think he’s one that will have to prove it at this level before he can be confidently endorsed.
#11 Shifu Tan (Keikowin Racing/Ru. Gonzalez): May have gone favored if drawn on the inner-half of the field, but gets stuck in the penultimate gate for his 2nd G1 try after being stuck widest of twelve in his first try at this level. Was never less than 4-5 wide and was 10-wide at the finish to just be beaten by 1/4 of a length, but you hate to keep tempting fate from out here. Dangerous to take him out of his game, but he will need even more of his natural early foot to clear more traffic than he did in the G1 Stephens and that could leave him vulnerable late.
#12 High Crimes (Alydar Stables/F. Pennington): Outside horse was purchased for $300.000 after DH-ing for the win in G3 Swale, but has only a 2nd in the G1 Day Mile to show for four tries for the current connections. Faces the ultimate tough decision of gunning for the front or taking all the way back and neither promises success. Believe his best chance for success is to get a similar trip as he did in G1 Stephens, but not sure how that happens from out here and he would still have to find more at the finish to get anything more than a minor prize in here.
Final Analysis: Big, competitive field with plenty of plausible outcomes, but let’s go 2-5-7. There will be a comprehensive look at the horses from the trainers themselves in Friday’s SRF (hopefully). Good luck to all in Saturday’s $500.000 G1 Jerkens Memorial from SAR!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
