Belmont Stakes, Belmont Derby both on the radar for My Boy Jack

ARCADIA, Calif. – My Boy Jack, who was fifth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, may have his next start at Belmont Park, but it could come on dirt or on turf.

Trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Friday that My Boy Jack is being considered for two Grade 1 races – the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt on June 9, or the $1.2 million Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf on July 7.

Desormeaux was leaning slightly toward the Belmont Derby as of Friday.

“He’s just as good on either surface,” Desormeaux said.

As for the Belmont Stakes, Desormeaux said, “I wouldn’t rule it out.

“He’s proved he’s a serious contender for 3-year-old races all year long.”

My Boy Jack has won 3 of 11 starts and earned $705,145 for the partnership of Don’t Tell My Wife Stable, Monomoy Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Earlier this year, My Boy Jack won two Grade 3 races on dirt – the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February and the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April.

In the Kentucky Derby, My Boy Jack encountered traffic and was wide on the far turn, and was beaten seven lengths by winner Justify. My Boy Jack was ninth, trailing by 15 lengths, with a furlong remaining. In his last start on turf, My Boy Jack was seventh, beaten three lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November. My Boy Jack won the Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October.

Friday at Santa Anita, My Boy Jack galloped on the main track, his second day of training since the Kentucky Derby.