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J Be K long gone in Woody Stephens Zayat Stables' J BE K (Silver Deputy) set a strong pace in Saturday's $250,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2), and kept on rolling through the lane to register a 5 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong contest under jockey Garrett Gomez. Under pressure early from True Quality (Elusive Quality), J Be K ripped through fractions of :22 1/5, :44 4/5 and 1:08 3/5, finishing up in 1:21 4/5. The favorite in a field of nine, J Be K returned $7.20, $4.80 and $3.80 while keying the $57.50 exacta, $666 trifecta and $3,799 superfecta (5-3-1-9). Silver Edition (Silver Deputy), who rated in midpack early, rallied up the inside to edge True Quality by a nose for second. Sent off at 10-1, Silver Edition brought back $8.60 and $6.20 while True Quality, who was turned back by the winner at the top of the stretch, paid $9.40 as a 24-1 outsider. Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy) finished three-quarters of a length behind in fourth, and was followed under the line by Ling Ling Qui (Yonaguska), Groomedforvictory (Victory Gallop), Ready's Image (More Than Ready), Fatal Bullet (Red Bullet) and Run With Me (Delaware Township). "He's getting better and maturing each time," owner Ahmed Zayat said. "(Trainer) Steve (Asmussen) has done a phenomenal job and (former trainer) Bob Baffert did a great job giving this horse his foundation. If he continues to stay healthy, he'll be back in Saratoga for the (August 23) King's Bishop (S. G1)." 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 he easily captured a six-furlong allowance at Fair Grounds. Between then he was transferred from Baffert to Asmussen, in part due to his owner's displeasure with the introduction of synthetic surfaces in Southern California, where Baffert is based. His connections tried him at a route in the Louisiana Derby (G2), but J Be K faltered to eighth. J Be K rebounded to capture the Bay Shore S. (G3) and run second in the Withers S. (G3) prior to winning the Woody Stephens. His record now reads 6-4-1-0 with earnings of $337,200. Bred in Kentucky by Glory Days Breeding, J Be K is 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 of 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 February sale.
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