Michael Langford’s JONESBORO (Sefapiano) stalked the pacesetter in Saturday
night’s $300,000
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G2), took over in midstretch and pulled off
for the 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Clifton Berry. Sent off the 5-1 third
choice in the eight-horse field, the Randy Morse-trained chestnut ran 1 1/8
miles on the fast dirt in 1:48 and returned $12.60, $5.20 and $2.60 to his
faithful supporters.
Shadowbdancing (Montbrook) took the lead from the gate, setting fractions of
:23 3/5, :47 2/5, 1:11 1/5 and 1:35 4/5. Jonesboro, breaking from the far
outside post, took up position just behind and to the outside of the front
runner on the backstretch. Shadowbdancing appeared for a moment as if he were
going to draw off entering the stretch, but then Berry urged Jonesboro on and
the seven-year-old veteran responded, overhauling the longtime leader.
Shadowbdancing was the 10-1 sixth pick in the field and paid $9.80 and $4
while ending the $113.60 exacta. Even-money favorite My Pal Charlie (Indian
Charlie) never got into the race, winding up another six lengths back in third
to give back $2.60 and complete the $276.60 trifecta. Victory Pete (Five Star
Day), another half-length behind in fourth, finished out the 8-5-2-4 superfecta
that was worth $1,205.40. Secret Getaway (Skip Away), Stonehouse (Chester
House), Red Hot n Gold (Gold Case) and Wayzata Bay (Roar) followed the top four
under the wire.
Jonesboro earned his second graded win of the year in this one, and his 10th
overall stakes victory. He captured the Texas Mile S. (G3) on April 25 and was
just a head back in second in the Lone Star Park H. (G3) prior to this one, and
the chestnut also owns wins in last year’s Razorback H. (G3) and the 2007 Essex
H. (G3). He’s placed seven times against black-type rivals and now boasts a
40-14-9-4 mark to go along with $1,383,575 in lifetime earnings.
Jonesboro was bred in the Bluegrass State by Jayeff ‘B’ Stables and reached a
final bid of $27,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling sale. His dam,
Hall of Famer Mom’s Command (Top Command), swept the Triple Tiara (Acorn S.
[G1], Mother Goose S. [G1] and Coaching Club American Oaks [G1]) as well as the
Alabama S. (G1) before being named champion three-year-old filly in 1985, and
the late mare captured 11 of 16 career starts, heading to the breeding shed with
more than $900,000 in earnings.