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J Be K makes short work of Jersey Shore rivals
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J Be K stamped himself as the top sophomore sprinter with a crushing victory in the Jersey Shore
(Christiana Scavuzzo/Equi-Photo) |
At distances less than a mile, J BE K (Silver Deputy) is undefeated. And he's
thoroughly roughed up the competition every time. Friday's $148,500
Jersey Shore S. (G3) was more of the same as the Zayat Stables' colorbearer
seized command leaving the far turn and went on to a facile four-length
decision. The Steve Asmussen-trained sophomore colt improved his overall record
to 7-5-1-0, with a perfect five-for-five mark at distances of seven furlongs or
less, when completing the six-furlong test in 1:09 over Monmouth Park's fast
track.A 5 1/2-length romper in the Woody Stephens S. (G2) in his previous outing,
the 2-5 favorite dueled three deep in a four-way battle for the lead through
early splits in :21 2/5 and :44 1/5. Those fractions exacted an extreme toll on
the other front runners, with Silver Edition (Silver Deputy) rallying from off
the pace to be six lengths clear in second, but J Be K was unfazed by the fast
pace and remained in complete control over the final quarter-mile under Garrett
Gomez. He returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 to his many backers.
Silver Edition, the 5-1 second choice, gave back $3.40 and $2.20.
Third-placer Indy Joe (Indy King) paid $2.60 at 7-1. The exacta totaled $8.40, the trifecta $20.40 and the 5-3-6-4 superfecta, with Fujita (Lion Hearted) in the
fourth slot, was $37.80. Go Go Shoot (Songandaprayer) and Bright Pick (Crafty
Prospector) rounded out the order of finish.
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J Be K established a new track record at Saratoga when winning his 5
1/2-furlong debut in 1:03 last August, but he headed to the sidelines afterward
and wasn't seen again until February 15, when easily capturing a six-furlong
allowance at Fair Grounds He suffered his first setback when trying a route in
the Louisiana Derby (G2) next time out, but rebounded with a five-length
trouncing in the seven-furlong Bay Shore S. (G3). The dark bay colt came up a
little short in the one-mile Withers S. (G3) on April 26, checking in second,
but the cutback in distance to seven furlongs clearly favored him in the Woody
Stephens on the Belmont S. (G1) undercard. He's now earned $427,200.
Bred in Kentucky by Glory Days Breeding, J Be K is the first stakes winner out of
the Grade 2-placed mare Major Wager (Valid Wager), who has also produced an
unnamed yearling colt by Speightstown and a 2008 colt by Vindication. This is
the same female family as Remsen S. (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) runner-up
Atoned (Repent). J Be K passed through the sale ring twice, bringing $125,000 as
a 2006 Keeneland September yearling before selling to his current connections
for $350,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Calder sale.
The seven-furlong King's Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga on August 23 is a likely
target.
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