Sir Winston readies for Jazil Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sir Winston, the 2019 Belmont Stakes winner, has returned to the scene of his greatest triumph as he prepares for his 4-year-old campaign.

Thursday, Sir Winston worked five furlongs in 1:03.09 over the Belmont Park training track and later was confirmed as a starter for the $100,000 Jazil Stakes here Jan. 25.

Sir Winston, under exercise rider Amy Mullen, started one length behind workmate Heavenly Curlin and finished two in front while getting his last quarter in 24.40 seconds. Sir Winston galloped out six furlongs in 1:18.16 and seven furlongs in 1:32.02. It was a decent move for a horse that isn’t typically an eager work horse.

Assistant trainer Jamie Begg told trainer Mark Casse that Sir Winston pulled his left front shoe off at some point in the work.

Casse said later by phone from Florida that Sir Winston will run in the Jazil “as long as he suffers no ill effects from that.”

Sir Winston was laid up after the Belmont Stakes and returned in the Woodchopper Stakes on turf in late December at Fair Grounds, where he finished last of 12. Casse was hoping to use that race as a way to get to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on dirt next week at Gulfstream Park. But when Sir Winston didn’t put forth an effort over yielding ground, the decision was made to use the Jazil as a way to possibly get to the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan.

“I just wanted him to run a decent race, then the rain came and I thought they maybe would take it off,” Casse said. “We had to make a decision. We ran, and unfortunately it was the wrong decision. It happens. We’ll go from there.”

The Jazil could attract Mr. Buff, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner; Stan the Man, winner of the Queens County; and Leitone, winner of the Claiming Crown Jewel.