Jackson Bend holds off Caleb's Posse in Carter

"That was some thrill, I tell you. It's amazing, this business," Zito said.

"You know, as a groom, I grew up around here, and I watched (the race) from

right over there, where I used to watch it when I rubbed horses. I put my foot

under a lucky spot from when I used to rub horses. It's just a great feeling. I

have to thank God and thank everything."

Zito was asked if the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap on May 28 would be

next for the five-year-old.

"Absolutely. The best thing is to just wait for that."

Nakatani, who guided the chestnut to a win in the Grade 1 Forego Handicap and

a third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint last season, regained the mount

after missing Jackson Bend's first two starts this year in Florida. He settled

Jackson Bend off the early pace as Shackleford, last year's Preakness winner,

took advantage of the stumbling start from Emcee and showed the way on an

uncontested lead, completing the opening quarter-mile in :23 3/5.

Jackson Bend advanced to challenge the pacesetter on the far turn and was a

half-length back in second after a half-mile in :46 4/5. Shackleford continued

to lead the way into the stretch and fought back gamely after being overhauled

nearing the quarter-pole, but was no match for the winner in the final furlong.

"The way he was moving, I felt I'd get next to Shackleford, let Shackleford

do a little of the dirty work and go, get near on the turn, and once I got

around the turn I was going to see where I was at," Nakatani said.

Jackson Bend put away Shackleford easily, but a serious challenge was looming

from Caleb's Posse. The Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero, a neck second when

opening 2012 in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap, delivered his customary stretch

rally but could not catch Jackson Bend in the final strides.

"The pace didn't materialize. I had nothing to run at, but I had a great

trip," Caleb's Posse's jockey Rajiv Maragh said. "I was close, sitting easy, but

there was no speed, though. (Emcee) was two, three lengths off the lead and I

was like 'what?'" At the eighth pole I thought I was going to be able to get by

(Jackson Bend) because I kind of drew on even terms, but I drew even on a fresh

horse, so it was really hard to get by him. (Caleb's Posse) ran amazing, but

it's a tough beat."

Donnie Von Hemel, trainer of runner-up Caleb's Posse, said, "Good

performance. He came up a nose short today, so we'll have to come try him again,

I guess. Most likely Met Mile. Things changed a little when (Emcee) broke bad,

Jackson Bend kind of made a little earlier move than we did and we just couldn't

get him rounded up there. That's horse racing."

Jackson Bend was the longest shot among four betting interests at 9-2 and

paid $11.40 to win. Caleb's Posse, the even-money favorite, finished 1 1/2

lengths better than the 3-1 Shackleford in third. Emcee, who was 2-1 with

Tahitian Warrior, came next in fourth, 16 3/4 lengths better than his entrymate.

Calibrachoa was scratched.

With the $240,000 payday, Jackson Bend has now earned $1,580,950 from a

25-9-6-4 career line. The Florida-bred son of Hear No Evil has won a total of

eight stakes, including the 2009 Florida Stallion Stakes series at Calder, and

has placed in nine black-type events, including the Preakness and Wood Memorial

in 2010.

Bred by Brei's Jacks or Better Farm, Jackson Bend is out of the winning

Tabasco Cat mare Sexy Stockings and counts as half-siblings multiple stakes

vixen Garter Belt and the stakes-placed Grand Shores. He also has a juvenile

full sister named Sequoyah Hills. Sexy Stockings is a half-sister to multiple

Grade 2 queen and millionaire Lottsa Talc.