Shancelot sharp in final work for Jerkens

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While the Travers is obviously the highlight on Saturday’s card, the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens figures to draw plenty of attention as well with the return of Shancelot off his memorable performance here four weeks ago in the Grade 2 Amsterdam.

Shancelot not only won the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam on July 28 by more than a dozen lengths, his final time of 1:14.01 came within a couple of ticks of Quality Road’s track record while earning him a 121 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Shancelot’s six furlong split of 1:07.63 also eclipsed the new mark for that distance set the previous day by Imperial Hint.

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Trainer Jorge Navarro shipped Shancelot from his Monmouth Park base to Saratoga for his final work a week prior to the Amsterdam but opted to keep his speedster home to prepare for the Allen Jerkens. On Sunday, Shancelot worked six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:11 at the Jersey Shore oval with Chris DeCarlo aboard. The Florida-based Emisael Jaramillo has ridden the sensational 3-year-old to all three of his career wins.

“He went five-eighths in 58 and really pretty much galloped out the three-quarters,” Navarro said by phone Monday. “When Chris jumped off yesterday, he said the horse couldn’t have gone any easier. That’s him. He can go 58 like that and do it so easily. Chris has been working this horse for me here and knows him well and he said everything is perfect. He’s ready, and I’m very excited about bringing him back there again on Saturday.”

Despite the imposing presence of Shancelot, the field for the seven-furlong Allen Jerkens also is expected to include Borracho, Hog Creek Hustle, Mind Control, Nitrous, Rowayton, Super Comet, and Twelfth Labour when drawn Wednesday.