Unitarian Takes Inaugural Allen Jerkens Stakes

Backed by more than 3,600 wins and a record seven Eclipse Awards as top trainer, even Todd Pletcher was humbled by his latest victory in the $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Reserved near the back in the early stages of the two-mile turf marathon, Unitarian came with a late flourish in the final sixteenth of a mile and drew away to win the inaugural running of the stakes named in honor of the revered 85-year-old Hall of Fame trainer.

Favored at 8-5 in a field of 11 older horses, Unitarian ($3.80) won by 3 1/2 lengths while being clocked in 3:23.22 over a firm turf course. Artic North was second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Reflecting in third. Desvelo, Buck Benny, Turkish, Royal Blessing, Tryer, Tattenham, Ocean Seven and Bingo Bango Bongo completed the order of finish.

Known as ‘The Chief,’ Jerkens received an ovation as he walked to the winner’s circle to present the race trophy to the winning connections, including owner Robert S. Evans and jockey Javier Castellano. The youngest flat trainer in the Hall of Fame at the time of his 1975 induction, Jerkens has won more than 3,850 races in a 65-year career including some of the most memorable upsets in thoroughbred history.

“I don’t think there’s a trainer on the grounds that hasn’t gone to Mr. Jerkens at some point and asked for some advice, and he’s very giving with it,” Pletcher said. “I’ll tell you what. When the stake calendar came out and I saw this race I said, ‘Man, I’d love to win that. That would be cool.’ The Chief is a legend, not only as a trainer but as a person. He’s a special man.”

Breaking from Post 2, Castellano settled Unitarian well behind front-running Reflecting, who led through a quarter-mile in 25.53 seconds, a half in 51.88, six furlongs in 1:17.62 and a mile in 1:43.48. Reflecting was still in front after 1 ¾ miles when Artic North came up to challenge, with Unitarian looming boldly on the outside.

“I had a great trip. Saving ground was most important,” Castellano said. “On the last turn, I wasn’t worried about [going wide], because I saved enough ground to lose a little ground on the last part. The key to these kinds of races is to need to have patience. I think patience paid off today.”

Unitarian was still a length behind the leaders turning for home but gained ground steadily through the stretch before taking over from a stubborn Artic North and pulling clear. It was the fifth win in 19 career starts for the 5-year-old son of Pulpit, coming in his 2015 debut. He captured the 1 ½-mile Elkhorn (G2) last April at Keeneland for his most recent victory.

“It worked out exactly the way we talked about in the paddock, so it was fun to watch,” Pletcher said. “We felt like this horse’s style would suit the distance well and he’s run well at a mile and three-eighths, a mile and a half. We thought he had the right temperament for it. He turns off in the early part of the race, which is important, and gallops along. He got a great trip and was able to save ground for three turns, and actually I thought put in a pretty explosive kick for a race of this distance.”

Gulfstream Park, Fans, Horsemen, Jockeys Pay Tribute to Allen Jerkens

When Allen Jerkens entered the winner’s circle to present the trophy to the winning connections of the inaugural H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, the man for which the race was named received a standing ovation from the crowd on hand.

The applause did not die down as a large crowd of friends, family and supporters gathered around Jerkens in the winner’s circle to celebrate the Hall of Fame trainer’s contributions to the sport. The 85-year-old, who is affectionately known as “The Chief” and “Giant Killer,” was joined by his son and fellow trainer Jimmy, who fittingly won a race earlier on the card, trainer Carlo Vaccarezza, who shares a barn at Gulfstream with the elder Jerkens, a large portion of the Gulfstream Park jockey colony, and other horsemen and friends. Dozens of cameras snapped as a commemorative photo was taken with Jerkens, a winner of more than 3,800 races worth more than $103 million in purses. Jerkens, now based in South Florida year-round, continues to train about a dozen horses at Gulfstream.

Jerkens, always humble and quick to turn the attention away from himself, appreciated the support.

“I didn’t think they were going to make so much of a production out of this,” Jerkens said, “but everyone has been saying nice things about me all day, and you hope you deserve it.”

Seven-time Eclipse Champion Trainer Todd Pletcher, who likely will join Jerkens in the Hall of Fame someday, was full of reverence for Jerkens after the legendary horseman presented him with the winning trophy, earned when Pletcher’s Unitarian crossed the wire 3 ½ lengths in front in the inaugural running of the two-mile turf stakes.

“It’s a true, true honor (to win this race),” Pletcher said. “Jerkens is one of the greatest of all time and a tremendous person and a tremendous leader for the trainers as a group, and it’s a real honor.”

Spark Puts Raw Talent on Display in Debut Performance

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said that it’s difficult to know how a horse will perform in a racing situation until they are faced with one, but as soon as his first-time starter Spark broke alertly in Saturday’s second race, a 5 ½-furlong maiden event for 3-year-old fillies, he had a feeling his trainee would put in a strong performance.

Spark, a daughter of Speightstown and the Maria’s Mon mare Mon Belle, scored a one-length victory over the more experienced Lots of Chocolate in her career debut, displaying both talent and greenness. The chestnut filly received a strong, patient ride from Luis Saez, settling in third, just off the pace of Lots of Chocolate and Magic Reider in the early going, before launching a bid around the far turn. Spark took the turn wide and had to run down the field in deep stretch from the five-path, but her momentum carried her right by Lots of Chocolate in the final furlong.

“It was a good effort,” Jerkens said. “She was a little green, looking around a lot. She showed pretty good talent in the morning, but sometimes she gets a little nervous in the gate. She broke slowly in the morning, but she broke right with the field today. I thought we had a good chance after I saw that, especially being on the outside, too. This year (at Gulfstream) the outside seems to be playing a little better. Last year it was the complete opposite - you had to be on the rail. It worked out good.

“You could see she was looking at stuff, but Luis is a strong rider, and he got her to mind,” he added.

Jerkens also commented on Spark’s strong pedigree.

“She’s nice, as you can see,” Jerkens said. “She’s an attractive thing, and she’s bred to be good, but you just don’t know until you bring them over here. We knew she had a lot of speed. We just didn’t want to work her too fast in the mornings so she wouldn’t get too nervous in the afternoons. Everything worked out.”

The final time for Spark’s 5 ½ furlongs was 1:05.47, and she paid $28.40 to win. Lots of Chocolate returned $4.20 for the place, while the 3-5 post time favorite Thepartyneverends, a $700,000 purchase who was making her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher, got up for third after missing the break, returning $2.10.

Who’s Hot: Paco Lopez, Javier Castellano, and Edgard Zayas won two races apiece on Saturday’s card. Lopez claimed the first and sixth races with Big Grandpa ($5.80) and Goodtimehadbyall ($3.80); Castellano, who rode Unitarian ($5.40) to victory in the H. Allen Jerkens, also won the seventh with Ironicus ($5.20); and Zayas took the third and tenth aboard Mongolian Honey ($5.20) and Artie Crasher ($26.40).

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $200,000 (Guaranteed)

The carryover jackpot pool for Sunday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park will be guaranteed at $200,000.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the sixth straight program Saturday, when multiple ticketholders with the 7-1-6-2-9-3 combination cashed for a healthy $51,900.62.

The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is paid out only when there is a single ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot was last cracked on Friday, Jan. 23, when a bettor invested in a unique $115.20 ticket through the Portland, Ore. hub to take earn a payoff of $159.411.24.

Sunday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11.

The Late Pick 4 and the 50-cent Pick 5 will also offer guaranteed pools. The pool for the Late Pick 4 (Races 8-11) will be guaranteed at $100,000, while the 50-cent Pick 5 (Races 7-11) will offer a $50,000 guaranteed pool.

Source: Gulfstream Park Communications