Jackson Bend heads the field in the Hal’s Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park
The newly turned 5-year-old Nicholas P. Zito trained horse, Jackson Bend, is back for more in the new season, and would like to continue his good run at the backend of the 2011 season, where he picked up dramatically in his last few starts after an ordinary beginning.
The Florida bred son of Hear No Evil, out of mare s**y Stockings by Tabasco Cat, Jackson Bend remained winless in his 4 consecutive starts at the start of his 4-year-old career, but turned things around with a win in the James Marvin Stakes.
He increased his tally right after James Marvin Stakes, with a win in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on 3 September, 2011, going at about seven furlongs over the dirt course. He defeated the likes of Jersey Town and Aikenite, who finished second and third, respectively, while Jackson Bend covered the seven furlong distance in 1 minute and 22.08 seconds.
Robert V. LaPenta’s Jacks or Better Farm owned Jackson Bend, ran a spirited race against the 2012 juvenile champion, Uncle Mo, in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park, but could not outclass the Todd Pletcher trained superstar, and finished a well run second on the day.
Jackson Bend managed a finish on the board in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, to winner, Amazombie, and runner up, Force Freeze, at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
Now the 5-year-old will try to begin his 2012 campaign on the right note when he leads a field of nine in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 14 January, 2012.
“Obviously, he’s best at seven furlongs. I mean, he’s 2-for-2. The reason I’m starting at a mile is I’m obviously not going to run six furlongs – and seven furlongs, it’s impossible to get a race,” Zito said. “He’s a good miler. He ran second to Uncle Mo, and if Uncle Mo wasn’t in it, he would have won it.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more. He looks tremendous. I just hope it’s not too tough a race first time back. It’s a good race to come back in, and that’s what we need.”
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