Carter Handicap likely the next start for Jackson Bend at Aqueduct
Another addition to the already strong lineup that is shaping up to be in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap, is the much accomplished Nicholas P. Zito trained, Jackson Bend, who is coming off a third place finish in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap
to winner Mucho Macho Man on 10 March, 2012, at Gulfstream park over a distance of 1 mile.
The Grade 1 Carter Handicap will be run over a distance of seven furlongs on 7 April, 2012, at Aqueduct’s dirt track. The Carter Handicap has reeled in a star studded lineup, which includes the likes of Caleb’s Posse, who is coming off a second place finish
in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Stakes.
The son of Forestry, and the last year Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford will be looking to bounce back from his dismal display in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, where he finished seventh on the day. The Dale Romans trained Kentucky bred 4-year-old
hasn’t won a race after winning the Preakness Stakes.
The winner of the Grade 3 Tom Fool Stakes will also take the field in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, and the Todd Pletcher trained son of Southern Image will be a force to be reckoned with in the Carter.
The Florida bred son of Hear No Evil, out of mare s**y Stockings by Tabasco Cat, Jackson Bend started off his 2012 campaign in a positive manner by winning the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes, going over a distance of 1 mile at Gulfstream Park’s dirt course on
14 January, 2012, defeating Sangaree in second and Cool Blue Red Hot in third, while covering the mile distance in 1 minute and 38.19 seconds.
“He stumbled leaving the gate and was outside the entire race,” Zito said of Jackson Bend's most recent effort. “We really can’t take much from that race, but he came out of it really well. He’s a terrific at seven furlongs and the Carter makes perfect sense.”
Jackson Bend, who raced at Aqueduct just once before back in 2010 finishing second to Eskendereya in the 2010 edition of the Wood Memorial, will look to convert that second at Aqueduct to first in the Carter Handicap.
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