Jacobson Loves Old, Classy Horses
Sometimes in trainer David Jacobson's barn, it seems like Old-Timers' Day at the ballpark. Since November 1 last year, the trainer has sent out 35 different runners age 7 or older, eight that were 9-years-old or higher.
One, 9-year-old Be Bullish, finished second sprinting July 19 in a $50,000 claimer - his 80th career start - leaving him just $15,382 shy of $1 million in career earnings.
Jacobson said he gravitates to the senior runners.
"I just love these old, classy horses that year-in and year-out have been giving us so much joy and are so beautiful," he said. "They look so great, too. Be Bullish, to see him on the track is something special.
"Anyone can do it, I just don't know if anyone wants to do it," he said of working with older horses. "It's a lot of time, a lot of patience, a lot of care. They're like me; I've got to soak my legs a little bit more, my knees are bothering me a little bit more, and I need a little more time in the hot tub."
The Jacobson old-timers, including Strong Impact, Be Bullish, Grand Rapport, Spa City Fever, Candyman E, Johannesburg Smile, Strapping Groom, Minnie Punt and Ravalo, are among some of the most recognizable horses racing in New York and bring a level of continuity to a game full of ever-changing faces.
"They're like pitchers who threw 90 mph, 100 mph fastballs, and they were great pitchers," Jacobson said. "Then, all of the sudden, their careers change, and they've got to learn how to get them out throwing curve balls and change-ups. They develop different styles to figure out how to get the job done, and it's similar with horses."
Jacobson hopes to get Be Bullish back in the entries before the Spa meet ends in an attempt to make him a millionaire, but isn't going to push it.
"He'll tell me when he's ready to run," Jacobson said.
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Barclay Tagg worked his swift and lightly raced 4-year-old sprinter Confrontation five furlongs in 1:00.19 on Friday morning in preparation for an upcoming allowance race August 8.
The son of 2007 juvenile champion War Pass last raced July 5, winning an optional-claiming six-furlong sprint in a torrid 1:08.51 at Belmont Park.
The victory improved Confrontation's record to four wins in six starts with $198,475 in earnings, but Tagg has yet to try him in a stakes race. That could change if he runs well in the allowance.
"If he wins that, I just might point for the big race - the Forego [Grade 1, $500,000, August 30]," said Tagg.
Tagg has taken his time with Confrontation, as he always has.
"I bought him [at Timonium for owners Eric Dattner and Harry Astarita], and it took me 14 months to get him to the races," he said. "He had one thing after the other. I don't think it's ever taken me even four or five months to get to the races before."