Jack Christopher Heads Field of Six in Woody Stephens

Undefeated rising star Jack Christopher  looks to add to his legacy June 11 in the $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) at Belmont Park.

Saturday's seven-furlong sprint drew six sophomores, with the Chad Brown-trained Jack Christopher cutting back in distance from the one-mile Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (G2), which he won by 3 3/4 lengths. Owned by Jim Bakke, Gerry Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant, Jack Christopher has yet to be tested in a trio of tries, winning by a combined total of 15 1/4 lengths. A romping winner of his six-furlong debut in August at Saratoga Race Course, the son of Munnings   then won the Champagne Stakes (G1) as a prep for the Breeders' Cup. Unable to contest the World Championships due to a shin issue, he returned on the May 7 card at Churchill Downs to win off the bench.

"He's doing fine right now," Brown said. "He's trained super at Belmont. I wasn't looking to cut him back in distance, but that's what is available right now. He's a tough-minded horse and a smart horse. He takes his races and works very well." 

Jose Ortiz, aboard for all three of starts, will ride Jack Christopher from the inside post. 

  

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable's Todd Pletcher-trained Wit  (Practical Joke  ) was third in the Champagne, but boasts two New York graded stakes on his résumé. The winner of last summer's Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga opened his 3-year-old account with a determined win in the April 9 Bay Shore Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Twice placed in grade 1 company, he seeks to break through at the top level when he leaves post 3 under Irad Ortiz Jr. 

"He's been sharp," Pletcher said. "He broke great in the Bay Shore and broke well in his two gate works we've had this year, so hopefully he's got that behind him. We just want to make sure he breaks with the field and not compromise his chances like he did a couple of times last year. Jack Christopher is an awfully good horse at any distance, but we're happy with our horse."

Pletcher has also entered a son of Into Mischief   in MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Provocateur . To be piloted by Luis Saez from post 6, the dual winner from six tries won the Hutcheson Stakes in March at Gulfstream Park and was second as the favorite in Belmont's six-furlong Gold Fever last out May 15 under Ortiz Jr.

"It was a ground-saving trip in kind of an intimidating spot," Pletcher said of the Gold Fever effort. "Irad said he just got in there and was a little reluctant to punch his way through. He just couldn't quite get there in time."

Grade 2 winner Pappacap  and the Steve Asmussen-trained duo of Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Morello  and Oaklawn Park allowance optional claiming winner Chasing Time , who adds blinkers, complete the lineup. 

Entries: Woody Stephens S. Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 11, 2022, Race 6

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo
• 2:22 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Jack Christopher (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	1/2
2	2Pappacap (FL)	Flavien Prat	124	Mark E. Casse	10/1
3	3Wit (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Todd A. Pletcher	7/2
4	4Morello (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2
5	5Chasing Time (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
6	6Provocateur (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1