Mr. Jagermeister takes big step up in Prairie Gold Juvenile

Atta Boy Roy took trainer Valorie Lund all the way to the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs, and now a 2-year-old son of Atta Boy Roy named Mr. Jagermeister could make life interesting again for Lund.

Two-year-old Mr. Jagermeister faced Minnesota-breds making his career debut July 4 at Canterbury Park, and it wasn’t a fair fight. Despite breaking a step slowly and trailing the field two strides into the race, Mr. Jagermeister opened a big lead around the turn and only increased his advantage while going comfortably to the wire. He won by 11 1/2 lengths, ran five furlongs in just more than 58 seconds, and got an 82 Beyer Speed Figure, among the top 2-year-old numbers this year in North America.

Put it all together and Mr. Jagermeister seems likely to go postward well south of his morning-line 9-2 odds Friday night at Prairie Meadows in the $65,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile. And if Mr. Jagermeister does wind up at 9-2, a bet is in order.

The Prairie Gold Juvenile, contested at six furlongs, is the eighth of nine races Friday with post time scheduled for 9:12 Central.

KEY CONTENDERS

MR. JAGERMEISTER, by Atta Boy Roy

Beyer: 82

◗ Debuted in blinkers and looks like a pure speed horse, but he should at least stay the six furlongs of the Prairie Gold Juvenile under jockey Andrew Ramgeet, who was aboard first out.

◗ He’s well drawn in post 8, from which Ramgeet can survey the actions of the other speed horses and ride accordingly. A bullet half-mile drill July 21 suggests Mr. Jagermeister still is sharp.

◗ While Mr. Jagermeister only beat Minnesota-breds, the horse who finished a distant second behind him, Bryson’s Confession, returned to win a Minnesota-bred maiden sprint by two lengths.

HARDWORKCLEANLIVN, by Colonel John

Beyers: 62-73

◗ Exits the strongest race of any horse in the Prairie Gold Juvenile, having finished a distant but troubled third June 30 in the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs. Ten City and Copper Bullet, the two in front of him, rank among the top summer 2-year-olds in the country.

◗ He is bred to run two turns on turf, but his debut win came over 4 1/2 furlongs at Lone Star, and Hardworkcleanlivn is quick.

THE TABULATOR, by Dialed In

Beyer: 62

◗ The good news is The Tabulator absolutely aired in his lone start, a July 2 maiden dash at Arlington. The bad news is that race came on Polytrack, not dirt, and The Tabulator had only two rivals.

◗ Arlington’s leading jockey, Jose Valdivia Jr., is named to ride for trainer Larry Rivelli, who hasn’t started a horse at Prairie Meadows since 2010.