The old boys rocked this one…  the total age of the top two finishers was a whopping 15 years, so don’t give up on your horses!  Jamfest trained by Jkk Racing Stables, made it a back-to-back repeat in the BC Turf Spring (GI) holding off Spanish Destroyer late and getting the five and a half furlongs in 1:02.45.  Dogs Dragon was a tough beat third and Barring Tor was fourth, both of those runners under the Maxmillion Farm colors.

The full field of fourteen loaded into the gate and were off with a bunch of horses away well – Jamfest, Big Bird, Natrual Flower from the far outside and Sweeping.  Spanish Destroyer, Dogs Dragon, Quasi Normal and T S Friday with that wall of horse-flesh.  Super Sexy Sanny, Louis Pasteur, Baffle and Barring Tor back towards the rail, Highly Doubted taken back a bit and Dance General was off a step slow.

Down the backstretch, nearing the far turn and just three and a half furlongs to run, the opening quarter went in :22.21 and Jamfest was in front by a half length.  Quasi Normal from the far outside applying pressure, Dogs Dragon and Big Bird made their way to the rail, Natural Flower between horses towards the outside, Sweeping right in the middle of things with T S Friday next to him.  Another length back to Spanish Destroyer, Super Sexy Sanny, Louis Pasteur and Baffle moving together from the inside, Barring Tor a length off of that trio, Highly Doubted next to that one and Dance General was the distant trailer, nine lengths from the leader.

Around the far turn, to the top of the lane and past the three-sixteenth’s pole, the half mile in a zippy :44.66, and Jamfest was flexing his muscles, in front by a bit over a length.  The field was fanning out at the top of the stretch and everyone seemed to have a pretty clean shot at it – Big Bird still applying pressure, Dogs Dragon next to that one, Sweeping the middle of the track and Quasi Normal caught very side.  Spanish Destroyer in the middle of the field and winding up, Super Sexy Sanny from the inside, T S Friday from the outside, then Louis Pasteur, Baffle, another half length to Barring Tor, gap of two to Highly Doubted and Dance General still trailed, eight lengths covering the field.

Inside the sixteenth pole and to the finish, they went 5f in :56.39 and Jamfest still showed the way by a length.  Dogs Dragon from his inside, Spanish Destroyer from his outside – both pressing forward, Big Bird still right there, Super Sexy Sanny with a clear path, Sweeping and Barring Tor from the outside… the rest had a lot of work to do – the run to the wire was ON!

Deep stretch, the old boy was trying to hold on, but the field was closing in…  Jamfest now in front by a neck as Spanish Destroyer was at him… Dogs Dream trying to find more, Barring Tor, Super Sexy Sanny…  but as they hit the wire, it was just a blur of horses and silks and the PHOTO sign went up on the tote board.  After viewing the photograph, Jamfest was rewarded for all of his heavy lifting and had won the BC Turf Sprint by a head.  Spanish Destroyer was second, just nosing out Dogs Dragon.  Barring Tor was fourth, then Super Sexy Sanny, Big Bird in sixth, Louis Pasteur in seventh, Sweeping in eighth, Dance General in ninth, Baffle, Quasi Normal tiring to eleventh, Highly Doubted in twelfth, Natural Flower and T S Friday was fourteenth.

Jamfest is a 7yo gelding by Megalomaniac – Kiva Dunes, by  Taunt, and he was bred by Team 7 Illusions in PA.  Claimed by Jkk Racing Stables for $6.000 back in Sept of 2011, he now shows an amazing sixteen wins from his fifty-one lifetime starts and earnings of $2,264.290.  Can he three-peat…  we can all sit back and watch!  Congratulations to Jkk Racing Stables and Jamfest!

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Firm      Time: :22¹  :44³  :56¹  1:02² 
$1 Exacta: 11 – 6 Paid 35.90     $1 Trifecta: 11 – 6 – 8 Paid 1,588.60 
Scratched: Jubilant Outburst, Just Mucho, Pip Metis, Asakusa Wild 

Jamfest broke alertly, set the pace while under constant pressure, held sway in deep stretch, won driving.  Spanish Destroyer away well, just in behind the pace, responded when asked, just missed in a game effort.  Dogs Dragon up close throughout while saving ground, made a late charge, just nosed out for the place.  Barring Tor missed the break, lacked room at the top of the lane, found a seam, closed well.  Super Sexy Sanny mid-pack, stayed on well.  Big Bird crossed over to save ground, tired.  Louis Pasteur some early speed tired.  Sweeping pressed the early pace, no excuse.  Dance General poor break, trailed, passed tiring rivals.  Baffle saved ground to no avail, outrun.  Quasi Normal away well, pressed the pace, wide trip, tired late.  Highly Doubted broke poorly, outrun.  Natural Flower up close early, tired.  T S Friday not a factor.

Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP