Bob Black Jack looks to make his second start of the season in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap on grass for the first time
Multiple graded stakes winning 6-year-old horse, Bob Black Jack, will experience a switch of surface after racing consistently on synthetic surface’s throughout his career, but trainer James Kasparoff is confident that Bob Black Jack will do fine on grass
when he enters his horse in the Grade 2, $250,000 Citation Handicap over at 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park.
The confidence to run Bob Black Jack untested on grass comes from his pedigree, and James Kasparoff even thinks his running style and strides will actually help his do well at grass.
“His sire, Stormy Jack, won the Oceanside on the turf, and his sire’s dam, Native Prospector, was a grass horse in Great Britain,” said Kasparoff. “His stride is conducive to turf. He has never worked or trained on turf, but he will be fine.”
Scarcely raced in 2011, Bob Black Jack has only one start to show for this year, a second place finish in the California Cup Sprint Handicap on dirt at about six furlongs under jockey Patrick Valenzuela on 29 October, 2011, at Santa Anita Park.
“The California Cup was a good prep,” said Kasparoff after the long layoff because of suspensory injury. “We all know he can go long. It took a good horse to beat him in the Santa Anita Derby, Colonel John.
Bob Black Jack finished second to Courtside, who wrapped up the 6 furlong long sprint in 1 minute and 7.97 seconds with M One Rifle finishing third.
The California bred son of Stormy Jack, out of mare Molly’s Prospector by Native Prospector, Bob Black Jack also made one start in 2010, but it was a worthy one where he landed the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes under jockey David Flores at Santa Anita Park’s
synthetic surface.
On 20 February, 2010, Bob Black Jack came from behind to take the seven furlong long dash downing Ventana and Supreme Summit who finished second and third, respectively, while posting the winning time of 1 minute and 21.05 seconds.
2008 season was when Bob Black Jack appeared 6 times, and then he achieved many long to achieve the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes over at seven furlongs.
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