Jak N Burny takes them all the way in George W. Barker

Jak N Burny gave notice that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season, delivering on his backing to handily win Monday’s $50,000 George W. Barker Stakes for New York-bred older sprinters at Finger Lakes.

Last year at age 3, Jak N Burny won four times from six outings. However, in his only stakes try in that campaign, he finished fourth in the Leon Reed Memorial in November at Finger Lakes, behind fellow sophomore Allure of Money and the older runners Flying Emperor, and Lady’s Golden Guy – all of whom he faced again Monday. Off an allowance win that concluded his 2023 campaign, Jak N Burny, a Washburn family homebred trained by Debra Breed, was sent away as the favorite in his 4-year-old debut despite facing that tough group.

The gelding rewarded his supporters. Jak N Burny ($4.50) was away well under Joel Cruz, and led by a length through an opening quarter of 22.77 seconds and a half in 45.71 seconds. Flying Emperor, who had tracked throughout in second, pulled up to the favorite’s hip as the top two pulled away from the rest of the field, but Jak N Burny had enough to kick clear again, hitting the wire two lengths in front despite drifting out late.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:10.69.

After Flying Emperor, it was four lengths back to The Institute, who edged Tra Lad by a head for third.

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