Snag has right qualities for H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – What does it take to win a two-mile stakes like the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at Gulfstream Park on Saturday? Nobody is better qualified to answer that question than Todd Pletcher, who won the first two editions of the Jerkens with Unitarian and Charming Kitten and will seek a third straight victory in the event with Snag, a son of Harlan’s Holiday who won a maiden race going 1 1/2 miles this fall at Keeneland.

“The real key to having success in this kind of race, obviously, is to be able to identify a horse who can stay two miles,” said Pletcher. “You can’t have a horse that wants to pull; you need one who’ll drop the bridle the first part, relax, and just gallop along. While pedigree is important – it certainly can give you some clues about who might have the stamina to go long – in today’s world, you just don’t see too many horses bred to go two miles, especially here in the U.S.

“Most of the horses we’ve had success with are the ones with a pedigree that suggests they might go a mile and a quarter or a mile and three-eighths but also have that ability to relax during a race. That’s what helps them stay the extra distance.”

Pletcher said he’s taking a little different approach to the Allen Jerkens this year than in the past.

“The first two years we won, we came in with established graded-stakes-quality horses that already had success at distances of one and three-quarter and two miles,” said Pletcher. “Snag hasn’t won beyond a mile and one-half and hasn’t shown that kind of class just yet, although I’m confident he’ll stay two miles. I just don’t know if he’ll be able to stay it fast enough, if he’s good enough.”

Snag must also overcome a tough post, having drawn the outside in a full field of 14 horses entered in the Allen Jerkens.

The one proven stayer in the lineup is Top Striker, who will return to the flat after registering a 10-length victory going 2 3/4 miles over hurdles in the Grade 1 Colonial Cup at Camden. Trained by Archibald Kingsley Jr., Top Striker has won three turf races on the flat, including one over the local course.

Trainer Mike Maker will send out a pair of key contenders, Generous Kitten and Taghleeb. Generous Kitten appears to be better at the distance, having won allowance races at 1 3/8 miles and 1 7/16 miles earlier this season while also having finished second behind Renown in the 12-furlong Laurel Turf Cup.

Also figuring to garner support are English Illusion, fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the 1 3/4-mile Valedictory at Woodbine in his last start; likely pacesetter Made in Detroit; and Montclair, who has had some success in races at 1 1/2 miles and beyond.

Sharp Azteca to go a mile

Trainer Jorge Navarro said that Sharp Azteca came out of his second-place finish Monday in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita in top order and will be pointed for the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile on Feb. 11.

Sharp Azteca contested the pace in the seven-furlong Malibu, shook free through midstretch, but could not withstand a final surge from Mind Your Biscuits, dropping a half-length decision while earning a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

“My horse ran a great race,” said Navarro. “He ran the best he could, he just got beat by a very good horse. He came back like nothing, like he hadn’t even run. We’ll keep him at a mile now, starting with the Gulfstream Park Handicap, with our main goal at the moment being the Met Mile.”