Though he doesn’t much care for the “Giant Killer” moniker he was given
decades ago, Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens has yet to lose the knack for
doing what inspired the nickname in the first place. That was never more evident
than in Friday’s $100,000
Westchester S. (G3), the feature on the opening day card at Belmont Park,
where LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer) relished the return to Big Sandy with a 27-1
upset of the one-mile prep for the May 31 Metropolitan H. (G1). Left in his wake
was 4-5 choice Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), the 2009 Westchester and
Metropolitan hero who wilted to fifth after a troubled and wide trip.
Le Grand Cru, under Cornelio Velasquez, tracked in second down the backside
behind Ironman Jon (Mineshaft), who held a one-length advantage through splits
of :23 1/5, :46 and 1:09 2/5. Asked to confront the long-time leader in the
stretch, Le Grand Cru responded and drew away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in a time
of 1:34 4/5. The winner paid $56.50, $18.40 and $10.40.
Convocation (Pulpit), the 5-2 second choice, was never more than five lengths
off the lead at any call and rallied to edge Ironman Jon for the place by a
head. He gave back $4.50 and $3.70 while the 3-1 Ironman Jon was worth $4.20.
Honest Man (Unbridled’s Song) came late to nab fourth from Bribon, who was
followed by Past the Point (Indian Charlie), More Than a Reason (More Than
Ready) and Giant Moon (Giant’s Causeway). Elusive Warning (Elusive Quality) was
scratched.
Exotics players were rewarded with payoffs of $204.50 (exacta), $1,040
(trifecta) and $4,915 (7-8-4-5 superfecta).
“I didn’t think he’d be that big a long shot,” Jerkens said. “I don’t know
why he didn’t run so well in Florida, but we have him a rest and he had a couple
nice works, just great. We’ll enjoy this one and see how he comes out of it.
But, of course, we will look at the Met Mile — do we ever stay home when we
should?”
This was the sixth victory in the Westchester for Jerkens, who first won it
in 1975 with Step Nicely.
This was the third win in four Belmont main track outings for the Jordan
Streicher-owned Le Grand Cru, who elevated his career mark to 18-5-3-2,
$433,578. His last three wins at the track have all been at the one-mile trip.
One of those was the off-the-turf Kelso H. (G3) last October, which was followed
by a score in the Bold Ruler H. (G3) at Aqueduct. As Jerkens noted, Le Grand Cru
struggled in Florida over the winter, going unplaced in the Hal’s Hope S. (G3),
Canadian Turf S. (G3) and Gulfstream Park H. (G2). He was, however, elevated to
third via disqualification in the Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1).
Bred by Earle I. Mack in Kentucky, the dark bay was purchased by his current
connections for $230,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of the El
Gran Senor mare Ice the Champagne, making him a half-brother to Argentinean
Group 1 winners Ice Point (Roy) and Ice Horse (Roy). His second dam, the winning
Jamra (Icecapade), is a full sister to multiple stakes hero and successful sire
Clever Trick. This is the family of Queen’s Plate and Carter H. (G1) victor
Alydeed (Shadeed).