Conagher stepping up to Grade 1 company in H. Allen Jerkens

The 3-year-old colt Conagher is a likely starter Aug. 27 in the Grade 1, $500,000 Allen Jerkens Stakes over seven furlongs on dirt following his sharp win Monday at Colonial Downs in the Housebuster Overnight Handicap.

Conagher carried top weight of 123 pounds and endured a pressured inside-speed trip, prevailing by 2 1/4 lengths. His seven furlongs in 1:21.42 yielded a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, six points off Conagher’s top figure from earlier this year. Conagher now has run fast and won three straight starts around one turn, but last month he was undone by a hot pace finishing second in the two-turn Iowa Derby.

Trainer Mike Tomlinson said Wednesday that Conagher “seems to have come out of the race in real good order.” Conagher will train with Tomlinson at Churchill and likely ship to Saratoga close to the Jerkens, another seven-furlong sprint.

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“That’s the plan at this point,” Tomlinson said. “He took the worst of if [in the Housebuster], pinned on the rail with two horses breaking down his neck. I’m ticked he ran on. Joe [Rocco] rode him with a lot of confidence. Joe knows him really well.”

Conagher, by Jimmy Creed, got a 104 Beyer winning a Churchill sprint allowance earlier this year.