Cartoonist ticks (almost) all the boxes in Jess Jackson Owners' Handicap

As trainer Jonathan Wong checks off the boxes going into Saturday’s $50,000-added Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap at Santa Rosa, he feels confident that there’s a good chance he’s saddling the winner in Cartoonist. Five 3-year-olds and up were entered in the Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap, a five-furlong turf sprint that allows each owner to determine the weight his horse will carry.

The 4-year-old Cartoonist is sharp. He is coming off a second to Outside Nashville in the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton on July 4.

That six-furlong race on dirt proved to be a very strong race. Outside Nashville come back to finish second in last weekend’s Joseph T. Grace Handicap here. Cartoonist’s stablemate Kochees, third in the Oak Tree Sprint, came back to win at Santa Rosa on Aug. 7. My Friend Emma, who broke poorly in the Sprint and finished last, also came back to win there and is in the field Saturday.

Cartoonist has plenty of speed. He dueled inside He’s a Tiger on the front end of the Sprint, and this time, he’s drawn outside of his primary pace foe, My Friend Emma.

And Cartoonist is getting 10 to 15 pounds from each of his four rivals because Wong and owner Scott Herbertson signed up jockey Ricardo Gonzalez to ride at 103 pounds.

Does the weight matter going five furlongs?

“When you’re getting five pounds and up, it can make a big difference,” said Wong. “We’re in at 103, and 10 pounds is big, even at five furlongs. We’ve got a really good jockey, a horse that’s really sharp and gets in at 103, and comes out of a good race.”

JESS JACKSON OWNERS’ HANDICAP (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Cartoonist, by Comic Strip

Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-85

◗ He has recorded his two best Beyer Speed Figures in his last two starts.

◗ For all the positives regarding Cartoonist, there is one unknown: How good is he on turf? In his lone turf start, he set the pace going a mile in an allowance race at Turf Paradise and tired to sixth.

My Friend Emma, by Tannersmyman

Last 3 Beyers: 85-22-85

◗ Speedster broke slowly in the Oak Tree Sprint and never was able to get into the race. He rebounded with a front-running win over this course and at this distance in an optional claimer.

Arrom Bear, by Nationhood

Last 3 Beyers: 84-73-88

◗ He’ll play a stalking role here and could get a first-run trip if the top pair wear each other out.

◗ He likes to win, having won 7 of his 17 starts, and has won at this distance on turf.