Jackie’s Warrior cruises to victory in True North Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Halfway through the year, he’s halfway home, while doing nothing halfway.
Jackie’s Warrior, the champion male sprinter of 2021, continued his march toward a potential second straight title with a ridiculously easy victory Friday at Belmont Park in the Grade 2, $300,000 True North Stakes, giving him three wins in three starts to begin a 2022 campaign that has three more races remaining.
In the 6 1/2-furlong True North, Jackie’s Warrior flaunted his early speed, widened on his opposition while running the second quarter (22.69 seconds) faster than the first quarter (22.83), then coasted home under regular rider Joel Rosario, who looked as though he was taking the colt through a morning workout.
Jackie’s Warrior crossed the wire five lengths to the best of Sound Money in 1:15.09 on the fast main track, and as the heavy favorite paid $2.50 for $2 to win. The performance earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.
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“It’s as simple as he’s very fast,” said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. “He has a tremendous amount of confidence and poise. All three of his wins, he’s been eased up late. He gains separation without being asked. He’s so rhythmic. I love to go up the stretch and watch him run.”
Jackie’s Warrior is compiling a glittering resume. The True North was his 11th win in 15 career starts, but removing his two tries going two turns makes him 11 for 13. He’s won Grade 1 races at 2, 3, and 4. And he’ll be fed nothing but Grade 1 races the rest of his career. Asmussen said he’ll next go to Saratoga, where Jackie’s Warrior is 4 for 4, for the six-furlong Vanderbilt on July 30, followed by the seven-furlong Forego on Aug. 27. After that, it’s on to the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint, to be run this year at Keeneland, before Jackie’s Warrior heads to stud at Spendthrift Farm.
Rosario, who has been aboard Jackie’s Warrior for all but his debut, said Jackie’s Warrior “took a little time to get going” in the opening yards, but after that, “I let him do his thing.”
“He’s a special horse,” Rosario said.
Jackie’s Warrior, 4, is by Maclean’s Music out of the A.P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl. He is owned by Kirk and Judy Robison, for whom he earned $165,000 on Friday to bring his career bankroll to $2,474,664.
Sound Money, the second choice, finished seven lengths in front of third-place War Tocsin. Baby Yoda, Mr Phil, and Night Time completed the order of finish of what the chart will show was a field of six, but was a one-horse race.