Jerkens Dominate Metropolitan Mile

And More Possible Starters for the Belmont

A Column by Steve Davidowitz
May 30, 2007

While the horses involved in the 2007 Triple Crown were getting a brief respite, the best race in America this past week was the 114th running of the Metropolitan Mile (G-1), at Belmont Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

American horseplayers know that 'The Met' is one of the most coveted racing prizes for older horses. Indeed, among its Hall of Fame roster of American champions, it has been won by Tom Fool, Native Dancer, Gallant Man, Kelso, Carry Back, Buckpasser, Forego, Holy Bull and more recently the outstanding Ghostzapper.

In this year's Met, the favorite was the Todd Pletcher trained Lawyer Ron, a very good 3 yr old in 2006 when trained by Midwestern based Bob Holthus. Under Pletcher in 2007, the 4 yr old Lawyer Ron did seem improved, or at least more settled and that was the whole idea behind the switch in trainers.

But Pletcher, who is enduring a disastrous May on the Triple Crown trail did not fare much better with Lawyer Ron's modest third place finish in the Met. Meanwhile, one of the game's great training families turned this prestigious race into their own private party.

Corinthian, trained by Jimmy Jerkens and somewhat overlooked at 8-1, finished first, just ahead of 24-1 shot Political Force, trained by Jimmy's Hall of Fame father Allen Jerkens, perhaps the most prolific trainer of long shot stakes winners in American racing history.

While the victory may have caught many by surprise, Corinthian seemed a budding superstar when he easily beat 2006 Belmont stakes winner Jazil in a Gulfstream Park allowance race in February and subsequently won the Gulfstream Park Handicap, (G-2) in March.

Yet after only one disappointing performance in the Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap (G-3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in April-in which Corinthian lost all chance at the start----many lost track of Corinthian's excellent early season form.

Big mistake.

Corinthian not only showed considerable grit turning back challenges from Lawyer Ron and Political Force, he left The Met winner's circle as a potential challenger to 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, the 2007 Dubai Cup winner due to return to competition at the end of June.

Beyond Jimmy Jerkens and his winning work with Corinthian something must be said about the elder Jerkens, now in his mid-70's.

Known affectionately in America as 'The Giant Killer', Allen Jerkens is a long shot player's dream, having posted innumerable upsets through 50 years on the track, including a pair of shocking victories over the great Secretariat with two different horses - Onion and Prove out ---in Secretariat's amazing 3 yr old, record setting Triple Crown campaign of 1973.

Surely, Allen Jerkens' historical upsets could fill this page, but suffice to say he is still pulling rabbits out of his familiar, white Panama Hat.

In the nine days leading up to Monday's Met, Jerkens upset odds-on favorite Sugar Shake with Teammate in the Shuvee Stakes (G-2) on May 19, and won the Jaipiur (G-3) on Sunday May 27 with 24-1 shot Ecclesiastic. This was a prelude to Political Force's near miss at long odds to complete the Jerkens' family exacta in The Met.

Behind Lawyer Ron in third, was Sun King---a sharp second in this same race last year, but somewhat less effective this time around after jockey Eibar Coa shifted him towards the inside in the upper stretch.

So, at the bottom line, The Met was a forum for good older horses bound to be involved in important summer races that inevitably will feed into the Breeders' Cup Classic at Monmouth Park in the fall, when the best of this year's 3 yr olds will also be involved.

In fact, as we move into summer, the intent here will be follow the glamour 3 yr olds through their July and August races at Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Monmouth Park and Saratoga, while shifting focus to Grade-1 races for older horses, fillies and turf runners, as well as the leading races for 2 yr olds at Saratoga and Del Mar where the stars of next year's Triple Crown will be unveiled.

In the meantime, the horses being pointed for this season's 1-1/2 mile Belmont stakes (G-1), June 9, include Curlin (definite) Hard Spun (definite), Street Sense (possible). The decision on Street Sense is to be made Thursday by trainer Carl Nafzger and owner James Tafel, pending a workout on Wednesday and other long-term considerations.

As I see it however, there really should be no "long term considerations" in this case. If healthy and energetic, Street Sense should be permitted the opportunity to compete in the third Triple Crown jewel against the two high class colts that have run so well against him in the Derby and Preakness.

Having the best 3 yr olds run in the Belmont is the purpose of that race-that is why it is called The Test of the Champion and racing itself needs high profile horses of good health to compete against each other in such forums, not be kept in reserve for a race that may never have the same cache or impact.

Tafel and Nafzger---both esteemed professionals---should know that the desire to reserve a perfectly sound, terrific young horse for a later date can backfire. In the fragile world of horse racing, there can be no guarantee that Street Sense will stay healthy or sound enough to reach his present fine form several months down the road.

Other likely Belmont starters:

• Rags to Riches - Todd Pletcher's top class 3 yr old filly who scored a dominating win in the Kentucky Oaks (G-1), the day before the Kentucky Derby and has been tentatively pointed for this stiff test against males, pending the decision by Street Sense's connections. If he goes, she will not.
• Slew's Tizzy - Who improved sharply to win the Lexington stakes and Lone Star Derby and obviously deserves a chance to run in a Triple Crown race.
• Tiago - Stretch running winner of the Santa Anita Derby in his fourth career start who finished steadily for seventh in the Kentucky Derby and galloped out strongly to reach the winner a furlong after the finish line. Tiago also has trained very well in Southern California since the Derby.
• Imawildandcrazyguy - A non threatening fourth in the Kentucky Derby is bred for long distances but has not yet won or placed in a Grade-1 race.
• Circular Quay - The Pletcher trained stretch runner who looked so good winning the Louisiana Derby and looked so strong in workouts with Rags to Riches at Keeneland, but failed to fire anything close to his best while finishing sixth in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness.

No matter which horses eventually line up in the starting gate, horseplayers would be wise to consider two powerful handicapping trends that have helped identify winners in the oldest and longest of the American spring classics.

* As demonstrated by almost every Belmont since the late 1960's, winning horses almost invariably reach the top of the stretch in the lead or no worse than two lengths off the leader.

This trend even includes the stretch running Jazil who came from back in the pack last year, but arrived in the lead at the top of the stretch after a hot pace sapped the strength of the early leaders.

The trend also suggests that this year's winner will have to make the decisive move on the long sweeping turn that reaches the 1-1/4 mile marker at the top of the stretch.

* Prior to 2002, horses who competed in the Kentucky Derby, but skipped the Preakness, were buying a ticket to nowhere. But, in keeping with the contemporary tendency to race horses so sparingly, this trend has reversed in recent years.

Bluegrass Cat, finished second after skipping the Preakness in 2006; Andromeda's Hero, sixth in the 2005 Derby, finished second in the Belmont five weeks later; long shot Birdstone came back from his poor performance in the Derby to upset Derby-Preakness winner Smarty Jones In the 2004 Belmont; Empire Maker, who was second in the Derby with a foot ailment, returned from his five week respite to end Funny Cide's bid for a Triple Crown sweep in 2003, and Commendable, a hopelessly beaten 17th at Churchill Downs and Aptitude, who was second in the Derby, finished 1-2 in the 2002 Belmont. This breakthrough result, began the reversal of a 50 year trend that a Belmont winner had to run in the Derby and Preakness, or at least compete in the Jersey Derby and/or 1-1/8 mile Peter Pan stakes (G-2) to win the Belmont.

The Jersey Derby no longer is an option, but even in recent years, several lightly raced, Peter Pan stakes performers have been important Belmont contenders. Unfortunately, this year's Peter Pan winner, Sightseeing is skipping the Belmont with his primary 2007 target the 1-1/4 mile Travers stakes (G-1) at Saratoga August 25.

I'll be there and so will readers of these columns.

Steve Davidowitz has written two highly acclaimed books on Thoroughbred racing---Betting Thoroughbreds and The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing. He also is a regular contributor to Daily Racing Form's Simulcast Weekly and DRF Plus and his columns appear in the Bodog Racebook each week.