Jack Christopher rejoins Brown stable at Payson Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jack Christopher is back with trainer Chad Brown in Florida after getting about 60 days off to recover from a minor shin ailment that forced the unbeaten colt to miss the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Brown said Sunday after Jack Christopher was bedded down at Payson Park that he has no set agenda for a return to racing, although obviously it is hoped the colt will be able to make the May 7 Kentucky Derby if he returns to peak condition.
“No update until I start training on him,” said Brown.
Jack Christopher, owned by a four-way partnership, was the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the BC Juvenile before being scratched the day before the Nov. 5 race at Del Mar. The chestnut son of Munnings has raced twice, easily winning an Aug. 28 maiden sprint at Saratoga before capturing the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park five weeks later with a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest of any 2-year-old in 2021.
Casse has big week
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse enjoyed a terrific four-day span at Gulfstream Park and elsewhere last week (Jan. 7-10) when he was represented by eight winners, including a couple at long prices.
Casse won five at Gulfstream, two at Fair Grounds, and one at Tampa with Golden Glider, a Ghostzapper colt who prevailed as an odds-on favorite after the favorite, Emmanuel, was scratched. Four of the Gulf winners were ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, including Glider ($28.60) and Lord of War ($37).
It was the hottest streak for Casse since he won 12 races from Oct. 7-10 at Woodbine and Gulfstream.