Jack Christopher cruises at Saratoga in bow for Brown

Jack Christopher lived up to even-money billing Saturday in his Saratoga debut.

The Chad Brown-trained colt chased Back to Normal through swift fractions, then pulled away to win a maiden special weight race by 8 3/4 lengths. The six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds was Race 2 on a 13-race card featuring seven graded stakes, including the $1.25 million Travers (G1).

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister own Jack Christopher, a Kentucky-bred Munnings colt. He was a $135,000 purchase last October at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Jack Christopher turned in his first timed work in late June at Saratoga and worked steadily at the Spa over the next two months. His works included five-furlong breeze Aug. 7 in 59.6 seconds, second-best of 35 moves that day at the distance.

“We’re not one to really tighten the screws on these horses first time out, particularly the dirt horses,” Brown told “Saratoga Live” in the winner’s circle. “This horse just took us there. …

“I’m so proud of him, especially mentally. The talent was always there. But when they come together mentally right before their debut and show the class, it’s a relief for a trainer.”

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, Jack Christopher broke sharply and settled just off pace setter Back to Normal. That Mike Maker trainee set fractions of 21.83 and 44.61 under pressure from the favorite.

Jack Christopher took command in the stretch, covered six furlongs in 1:09.85 and returned $4.20 as the even-money favorite. Rounding out the superfecta were Hoist the Gold, Be Better and Back to Normal.

The $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) is “at the top of my list” for Jack Christopher’s next start, Brown said. Belmont Park hosts that mile-long race for 2-year-olds Oct. 2.