Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito said Thursday morning that Jackson Bend will
get the chance to defend his title in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Forego. Zito
had entered the five-year-old son of Hear No Evil Wednesday in the seven-furlong
race, but did not want to commit to running until he was absolutely certain
Jackson Bend was suffering no after-effects from a training mishap two weeks
ago.
“Everything we’ve seen so far has been good,” said Zito, who trains Jackson
Bend for his breeder, Fred Brei, and Robert V. LaPenta.
“Jackson has passed all the tests. Physically, he looks terrific. All our
vets and everyone I work with has given us clearance and assured us he is the
same Jackson.”
Jackson Bend, who earned his first Grade 1 in the 2011 Forego with an easy 3
1/4-length victory over Jersey Town, was concluding a routine gallop on the
Oklahoma training track on August 18 when he collided with another horse coming
onto the track.
Although shaken up, the diminutive Jackson Bend escaped serious injury, and
resumed galloping on August 23. On Monday, he breezed four furlongs in :49 3/5.
Winner of a second Grade 1 when he beat Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford to win
the Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct, Jackson Bend drew post position 4 for
the Forego as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Shackleford, hero of the 2011 Preakness and the 2012
Metropolitan Handicap, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of
accomplished older sprinters, including Jersey Town, Isn’t He Perfect, Pacific
Ocean, Hamazing Destiny, Emcee and Caixa Eletronica.
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