Jackson Bend working hard at Saratoga ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Trainer Nicholas Zito is leading his contingent to the Breeders’ Cup next month, and at the Oklahoma training track there was activity a plenty after several days of wet tracks prompted conditioners to postpone workouts.
Total of 90 horses breezed at Saratoga on 18 October including two dozen of Zito’s runners, and among those dozens was the 4-year-old colt Jackson Bend.
Under his exercise rider Maxine Correa, Jackson Bend breezed four furlongs in 47.92 seconds ahead of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on 5 November, 2011.
Maxine Correa worked Jackson Bend in company of stable mate Our Dark Knight, as Jackson Bend worked out the outside.
Alongside the stable pony, Jackson Bend galloped from the eighth pole to the 4 ½ furlong pole as Jackson Bend was eager to put in some effort and it showed as he edged past his stable mate.
Jackson Bend and Our Dark Knight ran down their opening eighth in 12.27 seconds and then beat the quarter marker in 24.15 seconds.
Jackson Bend took over proceedings as he finished a neck ahead to hit the wire, and completed his move in 23.77 seconds.
It must have been a good feeling for Nicholas Zito to see Jackson Bend rip out a nice work out session, by taking over the stable pony and riding well ahead of him as he clocked five furlongs in 1 minute and 1.18 seconds and three quarter in 1 minute and
15.41 seconds.
“I was happy with him, he’s a tough little guy,’’ Zito said. “He’s so small but has got such a big heart. I want to see him get something good all the time. I’m definitely rooting for him to win that thing.’’
The son of Hear No Evil, out of s**y Stockings by Tabasco Cat, Jackson Bend won back to back races in July and September, when he captured the James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga and then immediately in his next start landed the Grade 1 Forego Stakes also at
Saratoga.
Both races were at about seven furlongs, and in his last start he finished second in Grade 2 Kelso Stakes behind Uncle Mo at Belmont Park
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