Jackson Bend headed to Dirt Mile, Ice Box targeting Classic

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito reported Sunday morning that Robert LaPenta's

Jackson Bend, second to Uncle Mo in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap; Bankers Buy,

fourth to Havre de Grace in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational; and Ice Box, who

lost contact with the field early on and finished last in the Grade 1 Jockey

Club Gold Cup Invitational, all came out of their respective races in good

order.

Jackson Bend, winner of the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on September 3, will

continue to be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, said Zito, while Ice Box

could take up the LaPenta banner against Uncle Mo in the Classic.

"It was great running against Uncle Mo," Zito said. "Everyone knows about

Uncle Mo. But I think Jackson proved something yesterday. People saw how good he

was. Spotting him the four pounds, that was a big thing. Right now, if Uncle Mo

runs in the Classic like they say he's going to, Jackson is going to be one of

the choices (for the Dirt Mile). He won't be worse than third (choice). That's

good enough.