Saratoga Jackie’s Warrior Outduels Life Is Good In H. Allen Jerkens Thriller August 28, 2021 Credit: NYRA / Chelsea Durand Saratoga Jackie’s Warrior Outduels Life Is Good In H. Allen Jerkens Thriller August 28, 2021 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Saturday’s renewal of the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga ended in a thrilling finish between top favorites Jackie’s Warrior and Life Is Good that became an instant classic. Full Card Plays Now Available There’s a reason we’re the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. Find Out Why Jackie’s Warrior broke from post 2 under Joel Rosario as the 3/2 second choice to Life Is Good, the 4/5 favorite under Mike Smith who exited post 6 in his first start since winning the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park March 6. Life Is Good outkicked his inner rival for sole command and set a measured tempo while racing a lane off the rail down the backstretch and into the far turn, where he briefly opened up. Rosario put Jackie’s Warrior to a vigorous hand ride while cornering that encouraged the Steve Asmussen trainee to reengage Life Is Good at the top of the stretch, and the 3-year-old superstars threw down all the way to the wire. Ultimately, Jackie’s Warrior surged inside Life Is Good and held a slim advantage that was ruled a neck as they completed the event in 1:21.39. “He broke really well and it looked like Life Is Good was very speedy too, so I decided to stay where I was,” Rosario said. “(Jackie’s Warrior) is a nice horse and ran a tremendous race. I felt confident, but Life Is Good was not giving up and a lot of credit to him, too. It was a very good race.” Jackie’s Warrior (right) defeats Life Is Good in the Jerkens (Credit: NYRA) Life Is Good’s loss was the first in a career that began auspiciously in California before an injury sidelined him from the Kentucky Derby Trail. Smith, his regular rider out west, flew in to ride him and was overall happy with how the colt returned to racing. “He never stops trying,” Smith said. “It was his first race back. We’re asking him to run against probably the best sprinters in the country, if not the world, to be honest with you right now, and for him to run like he did, it was pretty incredible. I would like to have been able to just gear him down a little bit more down the backside, but he’s very aggressive and every movement you make, he feels it and he responds to it. If you try to grab him, he runs on you, he pulls more and wants to get out, so you got to really be sensitive with it and I thought he ran great for his first race back, I really did.” It was 8 3/4 lengths back to Following Sea, Life Is Good’s stablemate in the Todd Pletcher barn. Drain the Clock, Newbomb, and Judge N Jury completed the strung-out order of finish. Jackie’s Warrior’s win was his second straight following the Amsterdam Stakes (G2), the local prep for this event, and improved the Maclean’s Music son’s record to 10-7-1-1 with $1,333,964 earned. ““This horse is incredible,” Asmussen said. “The thing you just love about him is his demeanor and the way he goes about everything that he does. We breezed Jackie and Yaupon (winner of the Forego [G1] a race prior) together 12 or 13 days ago and the way that they handled it and the way they came back from it gives you all kinds of confidence. I think they both ran their race and showed their Grade 1 ability against great fields and on Travers Day. What could be better?” Jackie’s Warrior returned $5.10 to win, $2.30 to place, and $2.10 to show. Life Is Good brought back $3.10 to place and $2.30 to show. Following Sea paid $2.60to show.
Kentucky Derby Prep Results [Louisiana Derby & Jeff Ruby Steaks] | The Magic Mike Show 536 The Magic Mike Show guys discuss what they learned from… Read More
2024 Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks Previews and Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 658 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the $1… Read More
Bayou Bluegrass Pick 5 [Fair Grounds & Turfway Park] | The Magic Mike Show 535 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
2024 Kentucky Derby Championship Series Look Ahead | Blinkers Off 657 The Racing Dudes take a look ahead at the upcoming… Read More
March Madness BRACKET Breakdown | Dudes Who Bet Sports 185 Aaron and Papa Dude give their break down of each… Read More
How Jared SCORED BIG On Louisiana Derby Day | Racing Dudes Betting Bible Update Jared reviews the recent Racing Dudes Betting Bible to explain… Read More
Florida Derby 2024 | Gulfstream Park Picks [Kentucky Derby] Aaron previews the 2024 Florida Derby (G1) from Gulfstream Park,… Read More
Arkansas Derby 2024 | Oaklawn Park Picks [Kentucky Derby] Aaron previews the 2024 Arkansas Derby (G1) from Oaklawn Park,… Read More
UAE Derby 2024 | Meydan Dubai Picks [Kentucky Derby] New York-bred Pandagate worked five-eighths in 1:03.20 Sunday in company… Read More
Gulfstream Park Oaks 2024 | Gulfstream Park Picks [Kentucky Oaks] Fiona’s Magic and Into Champagne, separated by a half-length in… Read More