The Jacksonville Jog
The feature race this weekend in Florida will be the Jacksonville Jog (G3). Set to go off with an afternoon post time of 2:35 pm Eastern, the race will be a marathon over two miles on the dirt, and will be open to three-year-olds and up, though this year only horses aged four or older have been entered in to try to get a piece of the $150,000 purse. The race looks like it is set to go off on a fast track and will have twelve total entrants this year; lets take a look at the contenders.
- Customizer – vodka7 – T. O’Connor – 4/1
In the slot on the rail, this five-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro is a million-dollar earner and accomplished Grade I winner, in addition to the #2 ranked dirt marathon runner. The striking roan gelding has made twenty-one lifetime starts, most recently in Arkansas during The Razorback Route (G1) at a mile and three-quarters. The gelding set a speed figure of one hundred four. His most recent win was just in his start prior to his most recent out, this in the UAE during The Desert Stamina Cup (G1) over the same distance, taking the race in wire-to-wire fashion.
2. Geigers Hammers – foxon7 – O. Parker – 7/1
Also coming out of The Razorback Route (G1), the four-year-old colt is looking for his first Grade I victory, though he has already secured a graded win. In the bay colt’s most recent start, the colt would break towards the middle of the field and make up some ground in the stretch to finish fourth, setting a speed figure of one hundred seven. The most recent win for the horse came on an off track overseas in Thailand during The Cowboy Handicap (G3) at two miles. Rated as good at post time, the colt broke fourth out of the small six horse field, making his move at the eight-furlong mark, and went on to win impressively by six and a quarter lengths.
3. Grammy For Justify – stockswami35 – B. F. Abman – 33/1
Making his graded stakes debut in this race, the five-year-old horse is out of Triple Crown winner Justify. The bay horse is coming off of three consecutive wins, most recently in an allowance race over two miles in Kentucky where he won by daylight; a margin of six and a quarter lengths, while setting a speed figure of ninety-five. Making up the two other races of his three consecutive race winning streak, also came in allowance company, over a mile and three-quarters and a mile and a half respectively. This will be a big jump up in class for the horse, as he has not faced off against listed or graded company.
4. Street Dominator – casino20 – J. Caves – 11/1
Also making his first start against graded company, the four-year-old light grey colt is out of the Grade II winning broodmare Front Street and is by Arrogate. His most recent start was in a listed stakes race in Kentucky over two miles in a Local Championship Stakes. On a track rated as good at post time, the colt broke sharply out of the gate and was held just off the pace in second. He held onto that position at the wire, setting a lifeitme best speed figure of one hundred eleven. Prior to this race, the colt had won his last six consecutive starts, all at allowance caliber races.
5. Consuling (ENG) – lightng115 – P. McGaunn – 27/1
Seeking his first graded win in twenty-seven lifetime starts to date, the English-bred six-year-old is also one of the oldest horses going to the starting gate on Saturday. Most recently starting overseas in Japan during an off track in The Dying Breath (G3) at a mile and three-quarters. The horse would break near the back of the pack out of the gate and never regained much steam, as he crossed the wire in twelfth, thirty-four and a half lengths off the pace, posting a speed figure of eighty-six. The horse saw his most recent win in his native England during a $100,000 claiming race at six furlongs, which the horse took in wire-to-wire fashion.
6. Zenwes – beefcake11 – J. Hayworth – 10/1
Moving our way towards the center of the starting gate, this New Mexican-bred gelding will be making his first start in graded company on Saturday. The bay five-year-old made his most recent start in New York during a listed stakes race over a mile and three-quarters. Breaking towards the middle of the field, the colt would cross the wire in fifth, off the pace by eight and a quarter lengths, while setting a speed figure of one hundred six. Prior to this start, the gelding won two consecutive allowance races over the same distance.
7. Jump Gold – myt4go3 – L. Ingersoll – 6/1
In the seventh slot, this five-year-old bay horse is a local stakes champion in Pennsylvania, as well as graded stakes placed. The horse most recently started in the aforementioned Local Championship Stakes at two miles. He was set off the pace of a few other front runners, rocketing forward in the stretch to win by four, setting a speed figure by one hundred four. The horse has made just two prior graded stakes starts; most recently in Japan’s The Dying Breath (G3) at a mile and three-quarters where he finished fifth and in The Molson Export (G3) over the same distance last October, in which he finished three lengths back in second.
8. Shady Warlock – chilichili – F. Mac – 9/1
The second million-dollar earner in the field for this coming weekend, the five –year-old gelding will be returning to the main track after a last try on turf during The Gold Glass (G1) in England over two miles. Out of a million-dollar earning broodmare, Slew Of Cash, the gelding broke out of the gate and settled into a stalking position just off the leaders, but would fade back over the course of the race to finish eleventh with a speed figure of ninety-seven. His most recent win was also on the turf, this in the Longchamp Marathon (G1), also at two miles, where he started out of the gate with a similar position just off the front runners. The gelding isn’t a stranger to the dirt, with recent on the board finishes in both The Olympic Torch (G3) and The Hit Man (G1).
9. Stock Form (NZ) – lightng116 – C. Thunell – 125/1
The longshot of Saturday’s field, this four-year-old bay colt will be making his first graded start, listed or otherwise. Purchased as a $75,000 claimer in his homeland of New Zealand, the colt was moved up into the allowance ranks. This will be the colts first start in the States. His most recent start was in a mile and three-eighths allowance race in the Czech Republic where he trailed the field out of the short five-horse field and made his move midway through to cross the wire in second, putting up a speed figure of ninety-one. The most recent win for the colt was under his previous trainer in New Zealand during a five and a half furlong claiming race, won by two and a quarter lengths.
10. Wildly Risky – eternity – C. Capper – 10/1
Also making his graded stakes debut, this four-year-old by colt by Uncle Mo will be making his thirteenth lifetime start on Saturday. The colt has won his last two consecutive races, both in allowance company at a mile and three quarters, setting a speed figure one hundred nine in both. While it will be a big step up in class for the colt, his dam Wild Risks, is a graded placed runner who has already produced one other colt, who has also placed in a graded race.
11. Lever Of The Nile – cencall1 – V. Gardner – 5/1
Making his first Grade I start, the five-year-old light grey horse is graded placed and has won just over half a million in lifetime earnings to date. The most recent start for the Kentucky-bred horse was in Japan during The Dying Breath (G3) over one and three quarters of a mile. Breaking third, the colt would fade back in the stretch to finish fourth over the good dirt track, setting a speed figure of one hundred five. Most recently, the colt won a listed stakes race over the same distance in Vermont, making his move in the stretch to win by a quarter of a length.
12. Outback Calash – yozgeld02 – A. Scott – 4/1
In the far outside, we have the third million-dollar earning starter for the weekend, ranked at #4 overall in dirt marathons. By Malibu Moon, the six-year-old gelding, also one of the older contenders to go to the gate, most recently started in The Razorback Route (G1) at a mile and three quarters in Arkansas. Second out of the gate, the gelding faded down the stretch to cross the wire sixth, setting a speed figure of one hundred six. August of last year saw the gelding’s most recent win, this coming in The Seattle Stayer (G1) over two miles which the bay took in wire-to-wire fashion.
Flrancho’s Picks
Win: Customizer
Place: Outback Calash
Show: Lever Of The Nile