Jack Christopher Maintains Sprint Perfection in Jerkens

Rebounding from his first defeat when third in the 1 1/8-mile TVG Haskell Stakes (G1) last month, Jack Christopher  improved to 5-for-5 in one-turn races with a decisive victory over Gunite  in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 27.

The 3-year-old son of Munnings  , owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant, raced seven furlongs in 1:21.15, just .20 of a second slower than the time of 4-year-old Cody's Wish  in winning the Forego Stakes (G1) earlier on the Saturday card.

Chasing early fractions of :22.18 and :45.53 set by Conagher , he took command under Jose Ortiz at the head of the stretch and maintained a safe lead over Gunite, who rallied to within a length and a quarter at the finish.

"I think he ran great turning back to seven (furlongs)," Ortiz said of Jack Christopher. "I think the race was better than what it looked on paper. We got some decent horses. 

"Four weeks (rest), and he ran huge. He gave me everything he had and a very good race. Honestly, though he was a little offbeat down the backside but at the three-eighths pole he picked up little by little, and I knew when I got next to (Conagher), I knew I got him. From then on, he just kept going at the same pace. I knew if he didn't stop, he was going to run them off their feet because he was running the whole way."

Inside-stalking Runninsonofagun  finished third, and Conagher weakened to fourth.

Chad Brown trains the winner, who returned $3.10 as the heavy favorite.

"Exiting the Haskell, that was going to be our plan if he didn't win and cut him back to this prestigious race here," Brown said. "I'm just so proud of the horse. He's been a very consistent horse. He's never disappointed us in a workout or a race."

Brown took his second H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, having first won the race in 2017 with Practical Joke  . Jack Christopher gave Ortiz his first win in the race.

Gunite, winner of the 2021 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) this summer, turned in another quality performance at the Spa.

"He just kept taking a run at (Jack Christopher)," said Gunite's jockey, Tyler Gaffalione. "That's a very talented colt, the winner, and my horse never gave it up. It was a big effort."

Former claimer Runninsonofagun, adding blinkers, turned in a career-best effort at 41-1 odds as the second-highest price in the field of eight.

Following Conagher across the wire was Accretive  in fifth. Happy Jack , Totalizer , and Actuator  completed the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Jack Christopher is out of the placed Half Ours mare Rushin No Blushin , a half-sister to grade 1-winning sprinter Street Boss   (Street Cry (IRE)). The 13-year-old dam has produced two winners from three starters and has two foals yet to race: an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Mo Town   and a Complexity   filly born this year.

Under the BSW/Crow Bloodstock partnership, agent Liz Crow purchased Jack Christopher for $135,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling sale, where he was consigned by Paramount Sales.

"To win a grade 1 at Saratoga is a dream come true. It's obviously a big race, and the horse ran really awesome. He really did," said Bakke. "I have to give kudos to Jose and Chad Brown, and (agents) Bradley Weisbord and Liz Crow, who selected him at the auction. A total team effort, and I can't be more happy. It's a thrill of a lifetime for me. I've been in this game for 25 years and never had a grade 1 winner (before Jack Christopher), so this is really special."

The colt became a millionaire in capturing Saturday's race, earning $275,000 to push his earnings to $1,216,400. He is 5-0-1 in six starts, having also won a maiden race and the Champagne Stakes (G1) last year age 2, and the Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG&E and KU (G2) and the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) this year at 3.

Bakke said there was "no doubt" that cutting back to one turn benefited Jack Christopher.

"Whether we try for two turns at a later date, I'll leave that up to Chad," he said.

Brown was noncommittal regarding what might be next for his trainee, but the six-furlong Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) would appear to be options this fall at Keeneland. Jack Christopher has not run as short as six furlongs since breaking his maiden at Saratoga last summer. He has two graded stakes wins at a mile when racing around one turn.