My Boy Jack Breaks Maiden In $100,000 Zuma Beach

ARCADIA, CA – The Desormeaux brothers teamed up to help My Boy Jack break his maiden in fine fashion, rallying four-wide late to take Monday’s $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita.

Breaking from post 6 under Kent Desormeaux, My Boy Jack angled to the inside of the rear of the field but had to jostle around a rank Restrainedvengence shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, For Him carved out early fractions of :22.45, :45.62, and 1:09.72 while loose on the lead. Going three-deep into the second turn, My Boy Jack began to move and hit the top of the stretch with momentum on his side and seven horses still to pass. Rallying hard to gain the lead in deep stretch, the Keith Desormeaux-trained colt hit the wire first by 3/4 of a length in a final time of 1:33.84.

“He’s a nice little juvenile,” Kent said. “He couldn’t have had a more eventful trip the first 1/4 of a mile. A horse bolted on the first turn and he really lost a lot of his action. His athletic ability is tremendous, to be able to get his legs underneath him after that.”

Favored Count Alexander bid between foes in deep stretch to get second, 1/2 a length ahead of Armour Plate. For Him faded to fourth, with Kazan, Kylemore, Restrainedvengence, Cono, Mantracker, and Trusting Friend completing the order of finish. Brave Helios and Big Buzz were scratched.

Owned by Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Monomoy Stables, My Boy Jack had finished a close second last out in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on September 3. The 2-year-old son of Creative Cause now has a record of 5-1-3-0 with career earnings of $103,145.

The Zuma Beach has historically been a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, as all five past winners subsequently competed in that event, and the Desormeaux brothers hope to continue that tradition.

“He’s been sitting on a win and with maturity, he chose the right time to show it today,” Keith said. “I hope this win set him up for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. That’s what we strive for, so if they let us in, we’re running.”

My Boy Jack returned $11.60 to win, $4.80 to place, and $3 to show. Count Alexander brought back $3.80 to place and $3 to show, while Armour Plate paid $11.80 to show.

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