Unbeaten Jack Christopher Favored in Pat Day Mile
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Photo: 2022 Casey Laughter
Jack Christopher gallops May 5 at Churchill Downs
He looked like he could be The Next Big Thing, a speedy, undefeated colt who dominated his first two starts by a total of 11 1/2 lengths. Jack Christopher , the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), was considered one of the likeliest winners on championship weekend last November at Del Mar.
The day before the race came the bad news. A stress fracture in his left front shin would require surgery and sideline Jack Christopher indefinitely. Bradley Weisbord, racing manager for co-owner Jim Bakke, said the connections felt "gutted."
Trainer Chad Brown, renowned for his patience, gave the son of Munnings all the time he needed, and Jack Christopher will return May 7 at Churchill Downs in the Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2).
"Unfortunately, he missed the Breeders' Cup and then he had to go to the sidelines and get off the Derby trail," Brown said last week. "But the last month of training, he's really jumped forward, and I couldn't be happier with him. I'm really eager to get him started.
"I'm not interested in running him against older horses in an allowance race, but it's not an easy spot to race in a stakes on the Derby Day undercard for his first start as a 3-year-old."
Brown may be blowing smoke, because besides his 2-1 morning-line favorite, there are no standouts in this edition of the Pat Day. Of his 11 opponents, only My Prankster , the 4-1 second favorite, has a victory this year. The others are a combined 0-for-28 by an average margin of nearly nine lengths. Todd Pletcher's My Prankster and Major General (9-2), along with Doppelganger (6-1) and Pappacap (6-1), are the only others below 10-1. If Jack Christopher is anywhere close to his 2-year-old self, he's by far the most logical winner.
My Prankster (outside) has been keeping company with Kentucky Derby contender Mo Donegal for morning works
The Kentucky-bred out of the Half Ours mare Rushin No Blushin cost $135,000 as a yearling at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale.
He was unchallenged and heavily bet in his only two races, an 8 3/4-length runaway at Saratoga Race Course before a 2 3/4-length win in Belmont Park's Champagne Stakes (G1). Both times he stalked in second before blowing the race open on the turn. After the Champagne, jockey Jose Ortiz said, "He gave me a great kick." Jack Christopher was even-money as a first-timer, 8-5 in the Champagne, and don't expect him to be 2-1 at post time on Saturday.
Jack Christopher didn't return to serious training until Feb. 27, and since then he's turned in 10 evenly spaced works. His last four impressed Brown—three at five furlongs at Florida's Payson Park before a half-mile breeze in :47 4/5 April 30 at Churchill.
Brown and Ortiz have every reason to be confident.
"He's done everything right training," Brown said, "and he's a grade 1 winner."
Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 07, 2022, Race 7Entries: Pat Day Mile S. presented by LG&E and KU (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Major General (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Todd A. Pletcher
9/2
2
2Trademark (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
118
Victoria H. Oliver
20/1
3
3Pappacap (FL)
Flavien Prat
118
Mark E. Casse
6/1
4
4Ben Diesel (KY)
Jon Kenton Court
118
Dallas Stewart
20/1
5
5Jack Christopher (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
122
Chad C. Brown
2/1
6
6Tejano Twist (KY)
Joseph Rocco, Jr.
118
W. Bret Calhoun
10/1
7
7Howling Time (KY)
Joseph Talamo
118
Dale L. Romans
30/1
8
8Kavod (KY)
Mitchell Murrill
118
Chris A. Hartman
20/1
9
9Trafalgar (KY)
Colby J. Hernandez
118
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
20/1
10
10Doppelganger (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Tim Yakteen
6/1
11
11My Prankster (KY)
Luis Saez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
4/1
12
12O Captain (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Gustavo Delgado
20/1
