Jebrica looks to regain winning form in Governor's Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. – Jebrica, closing in on $300,000 in career earnings, will try to get back to his winning ways when he starts Sunday in the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap at Emerald Downs. First post time for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

The Governor’s, for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs, is the first added-money stepping-stone to the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in August, and for trainer Jim Penney and his crew, it’s a chance for Jebrica to reassert himself as one of the Northwest’s leading handicap horses. But to reach the winner’s circle, Jebrica will have to get past a pair of formidable favorites, Absolutely Cool and Mr. Bowling, in a competitive 10-horse field.

Kay Cooper, who handles day-to-day operations for Penney, expects Jebrica to give his customary all-out effort Sunday. He’ll have a new rider, as Juan Gutierrez steps in for Eliska Kubinova. Jebrica has put in two brisk workouts since his season debut April 20, and he’s likely to be running on late.

“Right now, he’s feeling great – he really is,” Cooper said of Jebrica, a 6-year-old by Liberty Gold. “We’re looking at the longer races, obviously, down the road. I respect the fact that his owners allowed us to turn the horse out to get him freshened up. It helped this horse 100 percent. He enjoys running, he enjoys his job, and it shows. He gives an effort of 100 percent every time he goes.”

Jebrica recorded his signature victory over 11 taxing furlongs in the $95,251 B.C. Premier’s Handicap at Hastings back in 2011 at the tail end of his 3-year-old campaign. He won the one-mile Budweiser Handicap at Emerald last summer, his most recent victory. Overall, he has won 6 of 26 starts, with earnings of $290,911 for Ron and Rosalie Warren.

Jebrica belatedly rallied to finish fourth in his season debut over six furlongs, an effort Cooper said should be a productive tightener for the Governor’s and other races down the line.

“His post position was against us from Day 1 – No. 11 in a sprint,” Cooper said. “There was speed in the race, and Eliska had to take hold of him in order to save the ground, and by taking a hold, she got buried a little bit. And from the quarter pole, she had to step outside in order to close ground. But he came running. He really did. I was pleased with the effort.”