Sir Jackie fires late to win Blazing Sword

Sir Jackie, who had started just twice since winning the Lord Juban Stakes on June 25, rallied from near the rear of the pack to run down a game Notgonagetemtoday and post a 1 1/4-length victory in the $40,000 Blazing Sword Stakes at Calder.

Sir Jackie had only one horse beaten during the opening five furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile Blazing Sword. He advanced swiftly while racing wide leaving the backstretch, caught Notgonagetemtoday and Talented Prince nearing midstretch, and won going away.

Notgonagetemtoday, the 2-1 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds, was hustled early from his inside post to set fractions of 23.93 seconds, 48.82, and 1:13.94 for the opening six furlongs. He was overtaken by both Sir Jackie and Talented Prince leaving the eighth pole, but came again nearing the wire to finish second.

Talented Prince raced well placed just off the early leaders, gained a brief advantage between calls near midstretch, then hung at the end and finished third.

Delaware invader Letterman's Humor forced the pace for six furlongs and finished fourth. Kilates Kiss, the 3-1 co-second choice in his local debut, failed to show his customary speed and was never a factor while finishing fifth. Both Bird of Paradise and Obsidian were eased to the wire.

Sir Jackie was ridden to victory by jockey Eduardo Nunez. He is owned by John Prete and trained by David Vivian. Sir Jackie covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.92 over a racetrack upgraded from good to fast earlier in the day and paid $10.