Curly Jack out on the track before sunrise. Coady Photography
FanDuel Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: Blazing Sevens, Curly Jack, Verifying
Breeders’ Cup Notes/Edited
LEXINGTON, Ky.—The son of 2017 Sentient Jets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Good Magic, Curly Jack, had a 2m gallop followed by a gate schooling session Wednesday. He had his final timed workout on Oct. 28 going 4f in 49 4/5 a few days after shipping from trainer Tom Amoss’ Churchill Downs base.
“I am at Churchill more than I am here and I wanted to be around him on a daily basis,” he said of the delay in moving Curly Jack.
Michael McLoughlin purchased Curly Jack for $180,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“I picked him out at the sale and thought he was very athletic,” Amoss said. “His preparation for his first race was very strong and that is indicated by his (second choice) odds. He has always been a forward kind of horse and a very athletic horse on the track.”
The Juvenile is his first start since winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill on Sept. 17.
Rodeo Creek Racing’s Chad Brown-trained Blazing Sevens and exercise rider Peter Leiva Roman left Keeneland’s barn 64 and had an easy routine gallop Wednesday morning. Winner of two of his three starts, including the Champagne last out, the son of Brown-trained 2017 Juvenile winner Good Magic will look to emulate his Brown-trained sire.
“I like him going two turn and. I think it will be a plus for him stretching out,” Brown said. “He really doesn’t have a lot of similarities to Good Magic, other than being precocious. He is a bit bigger at this age.”
A $225,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase in 2021, the dark bay colt was third in the 7f G1 Hopeful in September four weeks prior to his one-turn mile Champagne win. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 6 on Friday and has a 6/1 morning line.
“I think the draw will be good for him and he should be able to work out a trip from there,” Brown concluded. “We are really excited about this horse.”
Trainer Brad Cox will be looking to duplicate the success he had two years ago when he won the Juvenile with future champion Essential Quality when he sends out the promising colt Verifying. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify is coming off a second in the Champagne Stakes to fellow Juvenile entrant Blazing Swords while racing on a sloppy track.
“I don’t think the track was his favorite surface that day,” Cox said. (Jockey) Joel (Rosario) came back and said he tried to hang in there, but he didn’t really think he was getting a hold of the track. I think this is going to be a very good horse around two turns and that’s what he’s going to get on Saturday. I think he is going to make a march forward for sure.
“The way he’s been training and just how he’s presented himself around the barn, I do think he’s going to really relish the two turns. I’m looking forward to giving him a chance. It’s solid race. He’s got to move forward, but I think he is and if he does, I think he’s going to be in the mix.”
