Shancelot has raised the bar high for H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After bringing the house down with a breathtaking performance in his local and graded stakes debut here last month, what can Shancelot do for an encore?

That’s the key question when it comes to Saturday’s $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, a Grade 1, seven-furlong dash for 3-year-olds that features the undefeated Shancelot coming back to Saratoga off his 12 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam on July 26.

Despite the imposing presence of Shancelot, the Allen Jerkens drew a field of nine that includes Grade 1 winners Hog Creek Hustle and Mind Control, along with Nitrous and Borracho, the second- and third-place finishers behind Hog Creek Hustle in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens earlier this summer at Belmont Park.

Shancelot launched his career winning arguably the deepest 3-year-old maiden special weight race contested this past winter at Gulfstream Park. The son of Shanghai Bobby was given ample time to recuperate from the effort before returning with a 6 1/4-length entry-level allowance win four months later at Monmouth Park.

But Shancelot did not receive national attention until the Amsterdam, when he dominated 11 rivals from gate to wire, running the opening six furlongs in 1:07.63, faster than the track record for the distance set the previous day by Imperial Hint. Shancelot earned a 121 Beyer Speed Figure for covering the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.01, which is 14 points higher than any other 3-year-old has posted this season.

“He’s ready for the race,” trainer Jorge Navarro said. “He couldn’t be training any better, but to be honest if we see that kind of performance again, I’ll be the first one passing out. It’s certainly hard to imagine him running any better than he did last time. Numbers are for handicappers. Our goal is just to win the race, and he’s going to have to go out there and prove he can do it again. What happened four weeks ago happened four weeks ago. This is a new day and a new race.”

If Navarro has one concern Saturday, it is the fact Shancelot drew the rail for the Allen Jerkens. He broke from the outside post 12 for the Amsterdam.

“It’s not the post I wanted,” Navarro said. “He’s a hot-tempered horse. It means he’ll have to be in the gate the longest. The first time he ran, he hopped a bit at the start from the rail. Who knows what he’s going to do? If he acts professional back there, he’s going to come out running, and the way I’m looking at it, the inside post and the rail is the shortest way home.”

As a Grade 1 winner this year, Hog Creek Hustle will carry top weight of 124 pounds under the allowance conditions of the race, conceding two pounds to Shancelot. Hog Creek Hustle rallied from near the rear of the pack in the Woody Stephens for a neck decision over Nitrous, with Borracho finishing less than a length farther back in third.

Hog Creek Hustle worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“We’re running a fresh horse and we’re ready to go,” trainer Vickie Foley said. “Seven furlongs is perfect for him, and he had a dynamite work on Saturday.”

Nitrous, who is trained by Steve Asmussen, came out of his near-miss in the Woody Stephens to finish a distant second in the Amsterdam, although did earn a career-best 95 Beyer. Nitrous finished third behind Mind Control in the Grade 1 Hopeful here a year ago.

“He’s run good races at Saratoga consistently,” Asmussen said. “We ran into a buzz saw last time. Like all races, that was impressive, but let’s see him do it again. Our horse has done really well since the Amsterdam. I’m pleased with his draw, and I think he has a big chance.”

Borracho also came out of his strong performance in the Woody Stephens with a big effort, defeating older horses in an optional claimer going seven furlongs here July 21. Like Nitrous, he earned a Beyer of 95 in his last start.

Mind Control lost all chance when he stumbled at the start of the Woody Stephens. The 2018 Hopeful winner, Mind Control had traffic trouble in his last start, finishing third, beaten a neck, as the 2-5 favorite in Laurel’s Concern Stakes on July 14.

Completing the lineup are Call Paul, winner of the Grade 3 Swale in his 3-year-old debut, Twelfth Labour, The Big S, and Rowayton.