Recovered from knee chip, Jackie's Warrior back with Asmussen
NEW ORLEANS – Jackie’s back.
A finalist for champion sprinter of 2021, Jackie’s Warrior arrived at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn at Fair Grounds on Thursday to begin preparing for his 4-year-old campaign of 2022.
The 1-2 favorite to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last Nov. 5, Jackie’s Warrior turned in easily the worst one-turn performance of his career at Del Mar. He struggled to make the lead, never looked comfortable down the backstretch and around the turn, and faded to finish sixth. He subsequently was diagnosed with a chipped knee that was surgically repaired in November, the procedure and recovery clearly going smoothly with the colt already back at the racetrack.
“He got a clean bill of health, and all is well,” Asmussen said.
Jackie’s Warrior survived a flaming pace duel to win the Pat Day Mile in May, then was done in by a bad start finishing a game second to Drain the Clock in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens. He crushed Drain the Clock in the Grade 2 Amsterdam before edging uber-talented Life Is Good in the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens, one of the most exciting races of the year, and cruised to the easiest of victories in the Gallant Bob, his BC Sprint prep.
If Jackie’s Warrior returns to form this season – and there’s little reason to think he won’t – he could dominate the sprint division.
Also back in Asmussen’s shed row is Max Player, who made huge strides during his 2021 campaign, winning the Grade 2 Suburban by a neck and the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup by four lengths before a disappointing and distant eighth-place finish in the BC Classic.
“I don’t expect him to run until we get back to Belmont,” Asmussen said.