The 8th Running of the Jerkens
Saturday, December 17, 2022
GP Race #9 $100.000
3+ 120/123 Lbs (Plus Penalties) 11/2 Inner Turf
Course Record-2:24.57 (Eve Of Destruction-2014)
Stakes Record-2:24.95 (Afterburner-2021)
#1 Party Wagon (Martyparty/El. Gonzalez 122): Colt has been a steady earner with six ITM efforts from nine starts this season. Hasn’t been on the grass since debuting at FE last September. The TUP score back in April will cost him a couple pounds on the scale as he tries his luck on the lawn for just the second time.
#2 Storm Of The Angels (Arindel/J. Stein 120): Gelding comes back here after breaking his maiden in the ninth start of his career. He does have three runner-up efforts to his credit and the maiden-breaker came while going just a furlong shorter than what he faces here. Tough spot to try winners for the first time.
#3 Smoking Makes You Il (Night Rider Stables/Al. Gonzalez 123): 7yo hasn’t gotten a win in any of his eight starts this season, but he does have six ITM finishes to his credit. All eight starts have been at this level and above, so no one in here should have him intimidated. Seems to be able to produce an effort no matter how he starts.
#4 Rebel Storm (Nakamura Stables/Edg. Perez 123): 5yo hasn’t produced his best in three graded-tries, but he’s held his own at this level and enters off of a last-out score at this distance. He’s capable of carrying his speed a long way as his two 12-furlong efforts demonstrate.
#5 Charley Buzz (Nakamura Stables/Jo. Ruiz 123): 4yo gelding has only made two turf starts, but he enters here off of a sharp 1-mile score on the GG lawn. His other turf start saw him off of the board, but that was against G3 foes and came over a “soft” course. If the form fully translates, he should be competitive (at the least) as he has some near misses in similar main track spots.
Final Analysis: Looks like an ice cold 4-3 in the Jerkens at GP.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
