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Jackson Bend drills bullet for Kelso
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| Jackson Bend is looking for this third straight win
(Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) |
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito's duo of JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) and ICE
BOX (Pulpit) each drilled bullets Sunday morning at Saratoga Race Course in
advance of their respective Super Saturday targets. Jackson Bend is headed for
the one-mile Kelso H. (G2), and Ice Box is bound for the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club
Gold Cup Invitational (G1).Jackson Bend blitzed four furlongs in a swift :46.97, posting the fastest of
40 works at the distance on the fast Oklahoma training track.
The Robert LaPenta colorbearer is coming off consecutive victories in
seven-furlong Saratoga stakes races. After a good-looking win in the July 22
James Marvin S., he rolled impressively in the September Forego S. (G1).
Ice Box, also owned by LaPenta, motored five-eighths in 1:00.80, best of a
dozen trials at the trip. The 2010 Florida Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby
(G1)
runner-up will look to get back on track after a sixth-place finish in the
Woodward at Saratoga.
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Charles Fipke's JERSEY TOWN (Speightstown), beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Jackson
Bend when second in the Forego, worked six furlongs in a sharp 1:11.15 over
Belmont Park's good main track on Sunday.
The only other works at the distance were about eight seconds slower, in
1:19.14 and 1:19.15.
Trainer Barclay Tagg said that the work was faster than he expected, but was
otherwise pleased with the drill in preparation for the Kelso rematch.
"It was very good," Tagg said. "He went a little faster than I wanted to, but he
went easily and the track was a little fast. I was looking to have him go in a
minute and gallop out in 1:12, which would have been perfect."
The Kelso will be the third start of 2011 for last year's Cigar Mile H. (G1)
winner Jersey Town, who was second in the Teddy Drone S. on July 31 at Monmouth
Park prior to the Forego.
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