Value Engineering pays off quickly for new owners with H. Allen Jerkens win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Value Engineering, making his first start for trainer Mike Maker since being purchased for $35,000 at the Keeneland November sale, returned quick dividends for his new connections by rallying to a 1 1/2-length victory over stablemate Wicked Fast in the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

The Allen Jerkens was switched from the turf to the Tapeta track and shortened in distance from two miles to a mile and five furlongs following a brief but torrential downpour that blew over the local area just before post time for Saturday’s card.

With Jose Ortiz aboard, Value Engineering, who had never run over a Tapeta track before the Allen Jerkens, rated willingly within easy striking distance of the early leaders, responding readily when set down to take command entering the stretch before edging clear under vigorous urging to the wire. Wicked Fast also raced forwardly and outside horses, moved to closer contention in early stretch but could not gain on the winner through the final furlong. Barberini finished third.

Another Mystery, the tepid 2-1 favorite in a scratch-reduced field of nine, finished a tiring sixth while Agitare, the second choice in the wagering, reared at the started, then raced rankly while kept very wide throughout and was never a serious factor.

Michael Hui and Phil Forte are the new owners of Value Engineering, who paid $12.00 after completing 13 furlongs in 2:43.01.

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“First time for us. Michael Hui likes quick dividends,” Maker said with a laugh. “I was hoping the race had stayed at two miles with his pedigree, being by Lemon Drop Kid out of a Dynaformer mare. I was more concerned about the surface change. He had a good position and kicked on when it counted.”

Maker said Wicked Fast, a 17-1 outsider and lone 3-year-old in the field, was “a horse we’ve always been high on and I think he also wants two miles. He ran a great race.”

Viburnum, like Value Engineering with no previous racing experience over a synthetic surface, took to the Tapeta course just fine, parlaying a perfectly orchestrated ride by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. into a 2 1/4-length triumph over Lisheen in the $100,000 Via Borghese Stakes, which was decided at 1 1/2 miles rather than the originally scheduled distance of a mile and three furlongs after being taken off the grass.

Viburnum rated mid-pack while also trapped in some tight quarters between horses during the early stages of the Via Borghese. The 4-year-old daughter of Include began to advance after the opening mile, readily overtook the tiring leaders approaching the stretch the final time, repulsed a mild bid from Lisheen nearing midstretch and won going away.

Lisheen trailed for over a mile, rallied to close contention upon settling into the stretch, but proved no match for the winner while clearly second-best. Flying Fortress finished third followed by the tiring favorite, Beside Herself, Starship Mallomar, Good American, Champagne Ivy and Treasure of War.

Viburnum is trained by Kelsey Danner for owner Dede McGehee. She completed the distance in 2:27.64 seconds and paid $9.60.

“I liked the mile and one half for her more than than the mile and three-eighths, but obviously the Tapeta was an unknown,” Kelsey said when asked her thoughts about the Via Borghese being switched to the Tapeta. “Being by Include, I felt she had enough dirt in her pedigree that she would handle it, but the only time she’d ever been on a synthetic track was jogging or galloping over the Keeneland training tarck."

Danner said in all likelihood Viburnum would get a break before returning to races in 2023.

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