The Jerkens Memorial (Grade 1)- $500.00 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 29, 2026

Prior to the running of the Jerkens Memorial, Wizardly was repeatedly putting together bullets in his morning works, showing that he was indeed ready to run a big one here at SAR in hopes of his fourth consecutive victory. He had not won a graded race yet, but showed his ability in ungraded races and looking like one of the better contenders in the race. The Barcelona Farms gelding would deliver, winning in a photo for his biggest career win. This will not officially clinch a BC Sprint spot, but history shows that Jerkens winners will be a part of the race. This is the first win in the Jerkens Memorial for both Barcelona Farms and jockey G Corrales. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:21.28, tying for the second quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it now!

(1/4 Mile- :22.81)- While running in the fourth lane, TwinTowersRacing’s It’s a Wonderful Life will be the early leader, and is ahead of three horses by close to a length. Silver Hurricane runs second on the rail for Mb Stables, and next to him, his stablemate Need Cash Now is the main reason why It’s a Wonderful Life cannot move closer to the rail. The Serenity Stables- trained Blacketer runs on the outside here, while Maxmillion Farm’s The Hunter stalks the lead behind them. From him, it’s a half a length to the D J C Racing Stables- trained Liberty Street. Our eventual winner from Barcelona Farms, Wizardly, is next, and while he is in seventh, he’s only about three and a half from the lead. Triangle (Mb Stables) trails the field.

(½ Mile- :45.88)- Blacketer will advance down the backstretch and take the lead before entering the turn, and will do so while four wide. It’s a Wonderful Life is content to run second to his inside, while Silver Hurricane continues to hold his spot on the rail. Need Cash Now begins to drop back, and The Hunter runs into some traffic trouble as that one does and with Liberty Street still hanging around to his outside. Wizardly is next, scored as four lengths from the lead, and it is further back to Triange.

(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Blacketer will continue to be the leader while round the turn, and still needs to be on the far outside in order to do this. He will enter the stretch with just under a length lead as both It’s A Wonderful Life and Silver Hurricane hang in there to his inside. As Need Cash Now continues to fall, The Hunter looks for a lane, and it starts to develop on the rail at the top of the stretch. Wizardly has made nice progress, and is in striking range. His biggest issue is where will a lane open up for him. Liberty Street isn’t showing much, but that’s more that can be said for Triangle.

(Finish- 1:21.28)- The frontrunners do some shuffling for position early in the stretch, specifically It’s A Wonderful Life, who causes G Corrales to have to adjust his path on Wizardly initially. That may have proven to be a blessing in disguise, however, as now a big opening has been created for him to come on through. While many eyes may have been on Silver Hurricane, who was emerging as the best of the frontrunners, and The Hunter who was gamely running on the rail, it would be Wizardly with the strongest stride of them all. A great finish in order, and in the end, it was truly too close to call in a three-way photo finish for the win. It would ultimately show that Wizardly did get up just in time to grab the big win, with Silver Hurricane being second best and The Hunter, third. Blacketer’s effort was good enough for the fourth place check, and the remaining order will read It’s A Wonderful Life, Liberty Street, Triangle, and Need Cash Now.

About The Winner- Wizardly, trained by Barcelona Farms and ridden to victory by G Corrales, is a three year old gelding by Tactical Wizard and is out of Tweetie Pie. He was bred as a third quarter two year old in California by Barcelona Farms and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in nine starts, his third stake win and first graded win. His career earnings are now $518.77.

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES