Unbeaten New York Thunder faces stern test against Baffert duo in Allen Jerkens Memorial

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In July of 2019, the unbeaten Shancelot shipped to Saratoga from his summer home at Monmouth Park and won the Grade 2 Amsterdam by 12 1/2 lengths while registering a mind-boggling 121 Beyer Speed Figure, only to come back and finish a disappointing third to Mind Control as the 1-5 favorite four weeks later in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.

On Saturday, undefeated New York Thunder, who dominated the Amsterdam here last month by 7 1/2 lengths with a 110 Beyer Figure, returns from his Monmouth base hoping for a better ending in this year’s renewal of the seven-furlong Jerkens. He faces what appears to be an even more formidable task than Shancelot did four years earlier, going up against the imposing Bob Baffert-trained duo of Arabian Lion and Fort Bragg, winners of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens and Grade 3 Dwyer, respectively, earlier this season at Belmont Park.

The field of six 3-year-olds for the $500,000 Jerkens also includes Drew’s Gold, who finished a distant third in the Amsterdam; Verifying, popular winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby in his last start; and One in Vermillion.

The versatile and extremely fast New York Thunder comes into the Jerkens as the least experienced member of the field having made only four previous starts, two of which came over synthetic surfaces and a third on turf. The 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam marked New York Thunder’s first try on dirt and first race beyond six furlongs and he passed both those tests with flying colors, leading at every call and widening his advantage despite being eased through the late stages by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who retains the mount.

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Although New York Thunder can reel off bullet works in his sleep, he has been given two very slow breezes by trainer Jorge Delgado, a pair of 52-second half-miles at Monmouth, subsequent to his eye-catching performance in the Amsterdam.

“The way he breezes on dirt, we were thinking of the Amsterdam for months and thankfully everything worked out our way,” said Delgado. “He got a clean break and took it from there. This horse is a freak of nature. He can run fast on any surface, at any distance, at any time of day.”

Delgado said New York Thunder couldn’t be doing better coming into his Grade 1 debut.

“My breeze rider knows him pretty well, so we’ve been able to keep him easy in the morning,” Delgado explained when asked about the two slow works. “I know what kind of race he came out of and what he’s going into and I didn’t want to lose anything in his breezes.”

As for going up against not one but two outstanding 3-year-olds from Baffert’s barn, Delgado acknowledged the task at hand won’t be easy.

“It’s like going into a game where Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are both on the other team,” said Delgado. “I’d much rather be playing against only one at a time rather than both. Those are two nice horses coming from California. It’s not going to be easy. But the way my horse has been doing, I really like my chances.”

Although New York Thunder owns the best Beyer Figure in the field, both Arabian Lion and Fort Bragg are not far behind. The former received a 109 for his 1 3/4-length triumph over Drew’s Gold in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens and Fort Bragg a 106 after out-gaming Saudi Crown by a nose going one mile in the Dwyer.

In the Woody Stephens, Arabian Lion rallied from just off the pace while turning back in distance off a series of two-turn races. He figures to sit a similar trip breaking from the outside post in his local debut. He will carry high weight of 124 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Jerkens as the only Grade 1 winner in the field.

“I think Johnny gave him a great ride [in the Woody Stephens],” said Baffert. “He was in rhythm the whole way. If you can keep him in rhythm without having to check, that’s the whole key.”

Baffert said he’s unsure if Arabian Lion is better at one turn or two at this point in his career.

“His race at Pimlico [winning the Sir Barton by four lengths] was just outstanding,” Baffert said. “I think he can do both. I was tempted to run him in the Haskell and would have if I didn’t have the other horse [Arabian Knight].”

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Fort Bragg will be shortening up in distance off a steady series of longer races. He raced within easy striking distance of the leaders in the Dwyer before hooking up in a furious stretch duel and narrowly prevailing. He and runner-up Saudi Crown finished 11 lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

“Seven-eighths is a good distance for him,” Baffert said. “I think eventually he’ll go two turns. He’s getting better and stronger.”

– additional reporting by David Grening

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