Jackson Bend not afraid of Uncle Mo – says trainer Nicholas Zito ahead of the Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park
The 4-year-old Nicholas Zito trained Jackson Bend braces himself for the Grade 2, $200,000 Kelso Handicap, where he will face the last year’s 2-year-old champion, Uncle Mo, who is all cured after his rare liver disease.
Uncle Mo made his first start after a 4 months layoff in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes where he got nosed out by Caleb’s Posse to only finish second at Saratoga on 27 August at about 7 furlongs.
Trainer Nicholas Zito has shown ample amount of respect for Uncle Mo, but at the time said that neither he nor his mighty mouse of a colt, Jackson Ben, will be afraid to take him on in the Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on 1 October, 2011.
He made a clear statement that Jackson Bend will not be intimidated, regardless of the Todd Pletcher trained Uncle Mo’s “to be seriously taken” credentials.
The son of Hear no Evil, out of s**y Stockings by Tobasco Cat, Jackson Bend is in great form, as he comes off in the Kelso Handicap with 2 consecutive wins behind is back.
The 4-year-old sprinter started his winning run in the Saratoga meet where he participated in the James Marvin Stakes on 22 July, 2011.
The 7 furlong dash was held at the Saratoga dirt course, and reeled in the likes of Hamazing Destiny and Escrow Kid, but both of them were no match for Jackson Bend’s ability, as they finished second and third respectively.
Jackson Bend topped the seven furlong distance in 1 minute and 20.91 seconds in a race which was for 3-year-old males and above.
Jackson Ben bowed out of the Saratoga meet on a winning note, and bagged the Grade 1 Forego Stakes on 3 September, 2011.
Jockey Corey Nakatani was aboard Jackson Bend for the first time at the Saratoga summer meet, and he guided the colt to his second win at Saratoga in another seven furlong dash.
Jackson Bend downed Jersey Town and Aikenite to win the race with the winning time of 1 minute and 22.08 seconds.
Zito would be hoping that Jackson Bend has two more left in him, the Kelso Handicap and later the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November.
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