Jerkens has two for marathon turf stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens will be sending horses far and farther in two marathon turf stakes next week at Belmont Park.
On Friday, Jerkens will send out Holy Helena in the Grade 2, $600,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles. That same day, he will also saddle Rocketry in the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational at two miles.
On Thursday, Rocketry worked a mile over the Belmont training track in 1:41.91. Rocketry went his first half-mile in 51.51 seconds and his second half-mile in 50.50 under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal.
Rocketry is coming off a three-length victory in a second-level allowance race here April 27. John Velazquez rode him that day and will be aboard again next Friday.
“Johnny said he sustained his run for a long time,” Jerkens said. “He said usually when they make that big a run around horses and you’re losing ground they usually hang on you, but he kept on going.”
Holy Helena, the 2017 Queen’s Plate winner, is 3 for 3 on turf, including a half-length victory in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay at 1 3/8 miles here on May 5.
On Monday, Holy Helena worked five furlongs in 1:01.96 over the Belmont turf course, with a final quarter in 23.91 seconds.
Divine Miss Grey eyes ‘Roses’
Divine Miss Grey worked four furlongs in 48.64 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Thursday morning in preparation for an expected start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses Invitational next Friday.
“She does it easy,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “If you let her, she can really go fast.”
Gargan said he is still deciding whether to keep Divine Miss Grey around one turn – she won the Interborough at seven furlongs and the Heavenly Prize at a mile – or stretch her out to 1 1/8 miles in a race such as the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 16.
Gargan said that while the presence of American Gal in the Bed o’ Roses makes that race tougher, he also expects it could keep the field short, which might make that race more attractive.
