Less is More for Allen Jerkens

Trainer Allen Jerkens was delighted to report that, for the first time in his Hall of Fame career, he correctly selected the winner of the Belmont Stakes.

“Drosselmeyer just looked like a steady runner to me,” said Jerkens. “Which is what he did – he kept on galloping.”

Jerkens, whose stable has contracted to 13 horses, nonetheless has been enjoying success with his small outfit at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. Thursday, Jerkens sent out his sixth winner when Mad for Smarty, a 3-year-old son of Smarty Jones, broke his maiden in the third race.

Jerkens started the meet off by saddling Le Grand Cru to win the Grade 3 Westchester; his other winners include Worthy Wager, who won a maiden claimer on May 9; Verse Choir, who won on May 13; Targhee Pass, another maiden winner, on May 26, and Close Range, who won on May 29.

Heading into Friday’s card, Jerkens was 6-2-2 from 15 starters.

“That’s how it works out,” he said. “Sometimes you have 50 horses, and you can’t win two races.”

Jerkens is hoping for good things from Mad for Smarty, a half-brother to 2004 Dwyer and Withers winner Medallist, and Formidable, most recently fourth in the True North.

“We’ll wait and see how he comes out of Thursday’s race before we decide on what’s next,” said Jerkens. “It would be nice if he came along and became a good one.”