Power Jam sets track record in winning Pirate's Bounty

DEL MAR, Calif. – The talented but oft-injured Power Jam ran the best race of his brief career on Monday at Del Mar when he sped 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.10 to set a track record, erasing the previous mark of 1:02 1/5 set by Ack Ack in 1970.

His victory came in the $81,990 Pirate’s Bounty Stakes, a restricted stakes race for older sprinters.

Power Jam ($4.80), the favorite, forced the early pace of Kaabraaj, forged to the lead entering the lane, and held safe Kafister to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Kafister finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mrazek, then came Clever Royal, All Run, Iron Rob, and Kaabraaj.

Stewart Elliott rode Power Jam, who was making his third start since returning from an eight-month layoff in July. That was the second significant layoff of his career. He did not debut until February 2015 and did not make his second start until last November.

The Pirate’s Bounty was the stakes debut for Power Jam, who had won twice in four prior starts, most recently in a first-level allowance at Santa Anita.

Bob Baffert trains Power Jam, 4, a son of Concord Point, for his owner and breeder, Kaleem Shah.

Ack Ack, the previous recordholder, was Horse of the Year in 1971, the first year the Eclipse Awards were given out. He was a 4-year-old when he set the prior track record on Sept. 12, 1970.