Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Jacks or Better Farm’s star 2-year-old homebred colt Jackson Bend continues to impress his connections and fans alike as he marched to an impressive 1½ lengths victory in the $150,000 Affirmed Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder’s Juvenile Showcase on Saturday.

With regular jockey Jeffrey Sanchez in the saddle, Jackson Bend rated in third place in the early going of the seven-furlong race, racing on the rail behind Mr. Green and Bim Bam.  Nearing the quarter pole, Sanchez guided his horse to the outside and was able to run down Mr. Green in the stretch near the sixteenth pole.  Jackson Bend, winner of four of his five previous races for trainer Stanley Gold, covered the distance in 1:25.19.

“This horse is such a good horse to ride, not just because he wins, but because he gives you whatever you need every time.  He breaks well enough and shows you he has some speed, if that’s what you want him to do, or he just lets you put him in a stalking position or farther back if necessary.  When you ask him to go on, he explodes and then does what he has to to get the job done.  I feel good about the way he will run going more distance,” Sanchez said. 

Mr. Green saved the place and Bim Bam finished four lengths back in third.  Jackson Bend paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10.  Mr. Green returned $2.40 and $2.10, while Bim Bam paid $2.10 to show.

“He’ll give you a cardiac attack sometimes the way he makes that big move up to the leader, but then just inches away like he knows where the finish line is. You always have to be concerned when a horse gets loose on the lead. In today’s race, we were concerned about Mr. Green in front, but you just have to rely on your rider to decide where to be. The first two legs of the series (Dr. Fager and Affirmed) are a little close together (three weeks apart), so we’ll probably just train him up to the final (In Reality on Oct. 17),” Gold said.

Jackson Bend is now in position to become the seventh horse in history to sweep the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.  The third race of the series is the $400,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 17.