Bob and Jackie takes advantage of fast pace to win Wickerr Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob and Jackie caught pacesetter Kiwi’s Dream in the final strides to win his 2020 debut in Saturday’s $71,500 Wickerr Stakes for turf milers at Del Mar.

Ridden by Heriberto Figueroa, Bob and Jackie ($18.40) was always well placed in a field of nine, stalking the pace while racing a few lengths behind Kiwi’s Dream. Figueroa urged Bob and Jackie closer to the front on the turn and got a response from the 4-year-old colt in deep stretch.

Bob and Jackie was timed in 1:33.35, finishing a neck in front of 7-2 Kiwi’s Dream, who finished a half-length in front of 14-1 Murad Khan. Bob and Jackie earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“I knew it would be a hot pace,” winning trainer Richard Baltas said.

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“I have to give credit to the jockey. He gets along with the horse and he knows the horse. He never gave up on the horse.”

Figueroa has ridden Bob and Jackie in all six of the 4-year-old colt’s starts since the fall 2018.

Big Score finished fourth, followed by Voodoo Song, Souter, Jasikan, New Year and Bolo. Voodoo Song, winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga in 2018, was the 5-2 favorite. He was second to Kiwi’s Dream for the first six furlongs and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

Kiwi’s Dream set a quick pace of 21.76 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.08 for a half-mile, leading by as many as two lengths. Kiwi’s Dream, who was second in two stakes at Golden Gate Fields in May and June, led by a length at the eighth pole, but could not hold of Bob and Jackie.

The Wickerr Stakes, restricted to nonwinners of a stakes worth $50,000 at a mile or longer since Sept. 1, was Bob and Jackie’s first start since a ninth-place finish in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita last December.

Owned by Zayat Stables, Bob and Jackie has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $176,571.

Baltas watched the race in Kentucky, where he is attending races at Keeneland this weekend. He saw the race on a tape-delayed basis and knew the result was favorable when his mobile phone chimed several times with congratulatory texts.

“I knew I won before the race was over,” he said.

The Wickerr Stakes was Bob and Jackie’s third stakes win, preceded by consecutive wins in the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-old turf milers in December 2018 and the restricted Let It Ride Stakes for 3-year-old turf milers here last November.

Bob and Jackie was rested earlier this year because of injury.

“He had a little hiccup,” Baltas said. “It was good to get him in the winner’s circle. We’ve had to give him a break a couple of times.”