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Ecclesiastic bounces back for Jerkens in Jaipur Joseph Allen's homebred ECCLESIASTIC (Pulpit) hadn't tasted stakes success since the 2005 Jaipur H. (G3), going only 1-for-15 since that score, and was exiting two last-place efforts in graded company. In other words, it was easy to see how the Allen Jerkens charge could be dismissed at odds of 24-1 in Sunday's renewal of the $113,800 Jaipur. The royally bred six-year-old was determined to regain his crown, however, and sprang to life on Belmont Park's inner turf. Javier Castellano positioned Ecclesiastic in midpack on the outside, a few lengths adrift of the frenetic pace battle ensuing between 4-5 favorite Weigelia (Safely's Mark) and Retribution (Rob 'n Gin). Weigelia maintained the advantage through torrid splits of :21 3/5 and :44 1/5. Entering the stretch, Ecclesiastic was ranging into contention on the outside. While Weigelia began to tire from his early exploits, Ecclesiastic surged ahead and drove to the line a 2 3/4-length winner, blazing six furlongs in 1:07 3/5 on the firm turf. The bay rewarded his supporters with healthy mutuels of $50, $21 and $7.10. "Now that he's older, it doesn't seem that he wants to go long any more," Jerkens said. "I thought if he could stay in striking distance today, he would have a chance. He's a beautiful horse. He won this race before when it was seven furlongs. I think his game is going short on the grass." Salute the Count (Count the Time) rallied along the rail to nip Weigelia for second. The 11-1 shot returned $12.60 and $4.80 while ending the $460.50 exacta. The prohibitive favorite gave back $2.40 to show and rounded out the $1,976 trifecta. With Southern Missile (Devil His Due) emerging in a scramble for fourth at 17-1, the 11-1-8-12 superfecta totaled $9,432. Next came Museeb (Danzig), followed by Retribution, Carnera (Old Trieste), Baron Von Tap (Pleasant Tap) and Will He Shine (Silver Deputy). Congo King (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), Metro Meteor (City Zip) and Silver Timber (Prime Timber) were scratched. Ecclesiastic's scoreline now reads 34-5-4-6 with $324,358 in earnings. In addition to his two Jaipur trophies, he has placed in three other stakes, the most recent being a third in the 2005 Fort Marcy H. (G3). From five previous starts this season, his best result was a third to Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr) in an allowance/optional claiming event on the dirt at Gulfstream Park. Since then, Ecclesiastic retreated to finish last of 10 in the Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship H. (G2) and wound up last of seven in the Fort Marcy after being bumped at the start. The Kentucky-bred was a $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2002 Keeneland September sale, but Allen recovered his homebred for $775,000 at the Jeanne Vance dispersal, also at Keeneland, in April 2004. Ecclesiastic is the first foal from multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Starry Dreamer (Rubiano), who has also produced 2006 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Breeders' Cup H. (G2) hero War Front (Danzig); multiple Grade 2 queen Teammate (A.P. Indy), successful in the May 19 Shuvee H. (G2); a yearling colt named Factum (Giant's Causeway); and a 2007 colt by Storm Cat.
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