Jack and Jim takes the Central Park (NYRA/Coglianese)
By Christian Abdo – NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Madaket Stables’ New York homebred Jack and Jim improved his record to 2-for-2 when notching a first stakes score in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Central Park, a one-mile inner turf test for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Graham Motion, the Slumber dark bay graduated by three-quarter lengths under Manny Franco going 1 1/16 miles versus fellow state-breds on September 22 at Belmont at the Big A. On Saturday, Franco returned to the saddle to pilot a successful step up into open stakes company.
“That was super. He did it really nicely. I loved where he was down the backstretch and it kind of set up well for him,” said Motion. “He always acted like one of my better two-year-olds and like he was useful. He did everything very easily.”
Jack and Jim was bumped as he exited post 4 and settled towards the back of the 10-horse field led by Not for Hire through an opening quarter-mile in 23.20 seconds on the firm turf. Franco was content to save ground along the rail through the first turn in sixth position as the George Weaver-trained pair of Not for Hire and Super Swift showed the way.
Jack and Jim continued to travel off-the-pace down the backside as Not for Hire rattled off a half-mile in 47.59 ahead of Super Swift with Sounds Like a Plan stalking from third position. Franco angled his charge off the fence heading into the far turn and after three-quarters in 1:12.19, it was time to go.
There were four rivals in front of Jack and Jim at the top of the lane but he was gaining rapidly with the Dylan Davis-piloted Smooth Breeze following suit from further back along with the favored Early Adopter.
Jack and Jim had the jump on the oncoming Smooth Breeze and Early Adopter with a furlong to run – and that would be the order of finish as he crossed the wire a half-length in front in a final time of 1:36.42
JACK AND JIM wins the Central Park Stakes with @jockeyfranco aboard for trainer @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/Qnz9cvlqwn
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 16, 2024
Smooth Breeze maintained a head in front of Early Adopter for place-honors, with 2 1/4 lengths back to Sounds Like a Plan in fourth. Not for Hire, Davy Crockett, Fire Pit, Super Swift, Manhattan Twist and McDiesel competed the order of finish.
Also-eligible Rock d’Oro was scratched.
Motion said a change to a ring bit after Jack and Jim’s closing debut score helped him hold a straighter course during his kick.
“We put a ring bit on him just to make him a little bit more manageable and to keep him straight. It seemed to make a real difference,” Motion said. “We got the jump on the favorite, which I think helped. Manny gave him a super ride.”
Franco agreed that Jack and Jim was more professional today.
“He was a lot more mature. The first time he was a little green when switching leads but today he ran straight. They changed the bit and I had more control with him, too,” said Franco.
Davis said that the Jorge Abreu-trained Smooth Breeze could take a step forward off this rallying second.
“I found myself behind Manny, the winner, which I knew in the first turn I was in a great position actually. And then moving with Manny, just moved outside, he’s just a little green, you know he’s still learning down the lane, but I thought he ran a great race,” said Davis. “You know, once he figures things out, he could’ve ran that horse down today, but he is just still improving.”
Jack and Jim, out of the Grade 3-placed Cockney Rebel mare Monette, banked $82,500 in victory while returning $6.50 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card, featuring the $100,000 Key Cents in Race 6 and the $135,000 Tepin in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
