Jack Christopher pulls away to dominant Woody Stephens Stakes win
ELMONT, N.Y. – The best 3-year-old at Belmont Park on Saturday put on quite a show four hours before the Belmont Stakes, as Jack Christopher pulverized five opponents in the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes to remain unbeaten in four starts.
The win, the second for Jack Christopher since returning from a seven-month layoff, sets him up for his two-turn debut, which trainer Chad Brown said will come next month in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth.
On Saturday, Jack Christopher, breaking from the rail, was outrun in the initial strides by Provocateur, whose rider, Luis Saez, was intent on the lead. Jose Ortiz had a willing partner in Jack Christopher, whom Ortiz angled off the rail to stalk Provocateur until he was ready to turn him loose coming into the lane.
The acceleration was immediate and overpowering. Jack Christopher quickly opened a daylight advantage in upper stretch, and he motored home 10 lengths best in 1:21.18 for seven furlongs on the fast main track. The performance earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.
“The other horse wanted the lead, so I got outside and sat behind,” said Ortiz, who said approaching the quarter pole, “I took a look back, and then let him go.”
“He was very impressive today,” Ortiz said.
Chad Brown, who trains Jack Christopher, said the colt has “natural ability, but I think what completes him is his ability to switch off.”
“He’s not hard on himself,” Brown said. “He has an abundance of raw ability.”
Jack Christopher has yet to race around two turns, so the Haskell will be his first try in that context. He’s won twice in one-turn miles, in the Grade 1 Champagne here last fall, and in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile in his 3-year-old debut five weeks ago at Churchill Downs.
“What gives me confidence is the way he switches off so nicely,” Brown said.
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Brown was an assistant to the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel before going out on his own. After the Woody Stephens, Brown said Jack Christopher reminds him of Ghostzapper, whom Frankel trained to the 2004 Horse of the Year title.
Jack Christopher, heavily favored, paid $2.70 for $2 to win. He is by Munnings, out of the Half Ours mare Rushin No Blushin, and is owned by a partnership that includes Jim Bakke, Gerald Ibister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant. Brant teamed with Brown and Ortiz to win the Just a Game with Regal Glory earlier on the card.
Pappacap rallied for second in the Woody Stephens, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Provocateur, who tired to finish third. Wit, Chasing Time, and Morello, who broke poorly for the second straight race, completed the order of finish.