Jean Valjean's rally pays off in Disco Partner
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Most horses lose a step as they get older. Jean Valjean, on the other hand, just seems to be getting better with age.
On Sunday at Saratoga, the 7-year-old Jean Valjean registered the most important victory of his career and did so in game fashion. Jean Valjean reasserted himself after relinquishing the lead to Determined Kingdom at midstretch and registered a neck victory in the $150,000 Disco Partner Stakes.
The win was the 10th in 24 lifetime starts, six of which have come during the past two seasons, for the well-traveled veteran. The son of Uncle Lino is trained by Elizabeth Merryman for owner-breeders Martha Nevine and Michael Pawasarat.
The 5 1/2-furlong Disco Partner, which was restricted to horses who have not won a stakes over the last two years, was the third start in the past five weeks for Jean Valjean. He finished fifth in a high-priced optional claiming and allowance race here on August 2, before shipping to Penn National to dominate the Marshall Jenney Stakes for Pennsyvania-breds just two weeks later.
Jomar Torres rode Jean Valjean to victory at Penn National and was back aboard for the Disco Partner, hustling the speedster to command along the inside shortly after the start. Jean Valjean showed the way into the stretch, relinquished command to Determined Kingdom briefly nearing the furlong marker, before fighting back bravely to prove narrowly best.
Determined Kingdom rated just off the early leader, stuck his head in front nearing the eighth pole, but could not last. It was another 1 3/4 lengths farther back to the 6-5 favorite Creditworthy, who was reserved under restraint near the rear of the field during the early going, then rallied belatedly out near the center of the course to finish third without seriously menacing the leaders.
Jean Valjean covered the distance over a firm course in 1:01.82 seconds and returned $18.08.
“I was worried when (Determined Kingdom) got the lead he might just blow on past him, but when he didn’t and he (Jean Valjean) kept digging and fighting back, I thought ‘we might have a shot here,’ " Merryman said. “It was a huge comeback. They don’t go that fast early too often and re-rally to fight it out and win it. I was proud of his determination.”
Merryman, who had saddled one winner from 15 previous starters at Saratoga, said it was a “great feeling” to win a stakes at the Spa. Especially since Jean Valjean is a homebred and the only horse his owners have in training at the present time.
“His last race at Penn National was really a confidence booster for him,” Merryman said. “He came out of that in very good form, very happy, and I haven’t done much with him since. It’s pretty quick back, but sometimes he’s better running than training.”
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