Jess Jackson has another nice prospect

ELMONT, N.Y. - Owner Jess Jackson appears to have a pretty nice 3-year-old colt in his stable as well.

A week after watching his superstar 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra win the Grade 1 Mother Goose by 19 1/4 lengths, Jackson was back at Belmont Park on Saturday where he watched Kensei blow past pacesetter Just Ben in upper stretch and gallop off to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, for 3-year-old males.

Convocation rallied to get second by 2 1/4 lengths over 4-5 favorite Warrior's Reward, who stumbled badly at the start. He was followed in the order of finish by American Dance, Masala, Just Ben, and Sunday Sunrise.

It was the first stakes victory for Kensei, a Steve Asmussne-trained son of Mr. Greeley who finished second in the Grade 2 Derby Trial and third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day.

Under Edgar Prado, Kensei raced a close-up fourth as Just Ben, under Rajiv Maragh, sped off to fractions of 23.23 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.71 for the half-mile. Around the far turn, Kensei, who remained on the rail in the early stages, advanced into second before coming off the rail at the quarter pole. He seized the lead at the three-sixteenths pole and cruised home an easy winner while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.47. He returned $15.40.

"He was well rated, he ended up having enough at the end to keep that pace going," Jackson said. "He was within himself which I liked."

Jackson wouldn't speculate where Kensei or Rachel Alexandra would run next. Jackson did say that Rachel Alexandra would work at Saratoga on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra's rider, didn't have as enjoyable a day in the Dwyer as he did last week. Warrior's Reward stumbled leaving the starting gate and could only manage a mild rally to get third.

"It cost him pretty good," Borel said. "He stumbled pretty bad and I couldn't get him going. The ground just broke out under him."

w Prior to riding Warrior's Reward in the Dwyer, Borel signed autographs for 45 minutes to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. At $10 per autograph, Borel raised $2,170 and the New York Racing Association matched that figure to bring the total to $4,340.