Get Jets flies late in West Point Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Although trainer Tony Dutrow knew that on paper Friday’s $150,000 West Point Stakes at Saratoga set up for a closer like his Get Jets, he admitted to being a bit worried when his horse was still last as the field turned into the stretch. But in the end, there was little reason for Dutrow to fret, not after Get Jets flew down the center of the course to register a half-length decision over fellow closer Offering Plan.

Coming off a second-place finish behind world record-holder Disco Partner in the Forbidden Apple last month at Belmont Park, Get Jets went postward the 2-1 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile West Point. And, as expected, Black Tide set a lively early pace, an opening half-mile in 46.44, with fellow speedster Changewilldoyagood on his heels from the outset.

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John Velazquez, who rode Get Jets for the first time in the Forbidden Apple, allowed the Scat Daddy colt to settle about 10 lengths off the lead in the West Point while saving ground during the early going. Get Jets was still well back as the field turned into the stretch, angled out to launch his rally at the head of the lane, and rallied inside in tandem with Offering Plan before proving best in the final sixteenth.

Offering Plan trailed for more than six furlongs, held a slight advantage on the winner turning for home, was on even terms with that rival through midstretch but could not match strides at the end. Kharafa, rallied to finish another three parts of a length farther back in third. Last year's winner, King Kreesa, finished sixth after breaking a step slow.

The 4-year-old Get Jets is owned by Team D. He completed the distance in 1:39.49 and paid $6.10.

Dutrow said he was concerned when Get Jets was far back at the top of the stretch, but that he felt better when he saw that Javier Castellano also had Offering Plan back there.

“But at the top of the stretch, those horses had a lot of work to do," said Dutrow. "In these turf races, that’s what you have to do, the last sixteenth of a mile you have to be in full gear. And Get Jets was.”

Get Jets has now registered three wins and two seconds in five starts since Dutrow switched him to grass for the first time last fall.

“When I bought him, I knew there was a lot of turf in his pedigree,” said Dutrow. “He trained well on the dirt, and he was successful on the dirt for a few races. But then he got beat one day, I said 'That’s it, I’m going to turf now.' And he’s been super over it.”

Dutrow said he’ll likely look to put Get Jets back in open company in his next start.

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“I have no disrespect for New York-breds because there are a lot of good ones," said Dutrow. “But I think Get Jets is a better horse than a typical New York-bred.”

Castellano said it was Get Jets who he felt was the best horse in the race, and the one he had to beat with Offering Plan.

“It was Get Jets who I followed every step of the way,” said Castellano. “But when we hooked up from the top of the stretch to the end, I couldn’t get by.”