Life Is Good will need to be great in G1 Jerkens

Undefeated Life Is Good may have to be great if he is to win the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

The Into Mischief colt loomed as a keen Kentucky Derby contender for trainer Bob Baffert when he dusted stablemate Medina Spirit by eight lengths in the March 6 San Felipe Stakes (G2), his third victory in as many starts. But so much has happened since then – to the horse and his former trainer.

Life Is Good fell off the Derby trail when he was found to have an ankle chip that required surgery. Baffert’s life turned hellish when Medina Spirit stepped up to win the Run for the Roses only to test positive for betamethasone. As part of the fallout from a series of positive tests involving Baffert’s horses, Life Is Good was among the top-flight talent removed from his barn.

WinStar Farm and CHC, Inc., replaced Hall of Famer Baffert with a newly-minted Hall of Famer in Todd Pletcher. Life Is Good resumed training under WinStar’s supervision before he joined Pletcher’s operation at Saratoga. Pletcher likes everything he has seen since then.

“When he came into us, he was already ready for a good half-mile breeze,” the trainer noted. “He’s trained very impressively since he’s been here. Very straightforward.”

The 3-year-old has never trailed at any call through the early stages of his career. He has worked five times at Saratoga,  beginning with a four-furlong drill in 48.88 seconds on July 24. He built up to six furlongs in 1:13.49 in mid-August. He clocked 1:00.61 for five furlongs on Aug. 21 in the final tune-up for his highly-anticipated comeback.

"We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to keep him on a good pattern of works and been able to dodge some rain when we needed to,” Pletcher said. “Things have fallen into place.”

Making the Jerkens is huge if Life Is Good is to be in top form for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 5 and 6 at Del Mar. He should have time for another start ahead of either the Dirt Mile or the Classic. “Tomorrow is going to shed a lot of light on what we’re going to do moving forward,” Pletcher said.

His enormous regard for Life Is Good is reflected in his choice of the Jerkens. “You wouldn’t do it with one if you didn’t have a lot of respect for their ability,” he said.

Life Is Good made a splash when he romped by 9 1/2 lengths in his Nov. 22 debut going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar. He stepped up to one mile in capturing the Jan. 2 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita when he repelled Medina Spirit’s furious rally by three-quarters of a length. He was the top choice in the Churchill Downs future wager after his San Felipe stroll.

The Jerkens will be anything but a walk in the park. Given the imposing presence of Jackie’s Warrior, it seems likely that Life Is Good will see another rival’s rear for the first time once the starting gate springs open.

Life Is Good will break from farthest outside in post six with Mike Smith jetting in from the West Coast for the assignment. Jackie’s Warrior and his rider, Joel Rosario, drew post 2 in the compact field.

Jackie’s Warrior boasts a perfect record through three starts at Saratoga, sweeping them by a combined 12 1/2 lengths. The Steve Asmussen trainee took down the Saratoga Special (G2) by three lengths and the Hopeful (G1) by 2 1/4 lengths last summer. The swift son of Maclean’s Music has never been better. He registered a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure during a 7 1/4-length tour de force in the Aug. 1 Amsterdam (G2).

Pletcher also will be represented by Following Sea, elevated to second through the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie in the Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park in his most recent start. But all eyes will be on Life Is Good.

“We’re always going in to win. We also understand this is a difficult assignment against horses with more recency,” Pletcher said. “I think we drew a favorable draw, so we’ll see if that helps him.”

However Life Is Good fares in his return from an extended layoff, there is every reason to believe he will be a force moving forward. He is the complete package.

“He just has a lot of natural speed and the ability to carry it over a distance of ground, which is what you’re looking for,” Pletcher said, appreciating how rare that combination can be.