Jackson Bend mows them down in Forego

Jackson Bend earned his first graded victory in style at the Spa (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has been an infrequent visitor to the Saratoga
winner’s circle this summer, but was able to enjoy a stakes win by his
long-suffering colt JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) in the James Marvin S. on the
meet’s opening day. Six weeks later, the chestnut made an impressive
come-from-behind rally in Saturday’s $250,000
Forego S.
(G1) to make it two-for-two at the Spa and putting himself in the discussion
for the November 5 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Unhurried down the backside under Corey Nakatani, Jackson Bend was a good
seven to eight lengths behind as Hamazing Destiny (Salt Lake), 5-2 favorite
Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) and Escrow Kid (City Place) dueled through
splits of :22 and :44 2/5. The gut-wrenching battle took the starch out of all
three as the closers gained considerable ground approaching the stretch. Cigar
Mile H. (G1) hero Jersey Town (Speightstown), who had tracked in fourth early,
began to advance outside, while Jackson Bend stayed closer to the inside in the
hopes of finding a seam.

In the stretch the seam Nakatani was looking for emerged as Escrow Kid
drifted out, which allowed Jackson Bend to split rivals while full of run.
Jersey Town tried to close outside but could not keep up with Jackson Bend, who
drew off to a comfortable 3 1/4-length triumph in a time of 1:22 for seven
furlongs on a fast track. Jackson Bend returned $8.90, $4.80 and $3.10 as he 3-1
second choice.

Corey Nakatani grinned through the dirt as Jackson Bend is led into the winner’s circle (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

Jersey Town just held second by a head over the deep-closing Aikenite (Yes
It’s True), who had trailed the field of nine to the stretch. Hamazing Destiny
weakened to fourth and was followed by Golddigger’s Boy (Jump Start), Escrow
Kid, Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor), Sidney’s Candy and Rule by Night (Malibu
Moon).

Conditioned by Stanley Gold as a two-year-old in 2009, Jackson Bend won the
open Frank Gomez Memorial at Calder then swept that track’s Florida Stallion S.
series — consisting of the Dr. Fager, Affirmed and In Reality divisions — to
conclude his juvenile season. Privately purchased by Bob LePenta and Fred Brei
before his sophomore season, Jackson Bend was transferred to Zito’s barn.

Jackson Bend failed to win in eight starts in 2010, coming closest in the
Holy Bull S. (G3) and Preakness S. (G1) when finishing three parts of a length
short in both. He also placed in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) and Fountain of Youth
S. (G2), but was unplaced in his final three starts of the season.

Stabled again with Gold earlier this year, Jackson Bend placed in two of four
stakes appearances, running second in the Skip Away S. (G3) and third in the
Memorial Day H. The overdue move to shorten Jackson Bend up in distance produced
immediate dividends when Zito re-acquired Jackson Bend prior to the
seven-furlong James Marvin on July 22. Racing closer to the pace than he did in
the Forego, Jackson Bend emerged with the lead in the stretch and drew off to a
2 1/2-length score.

Jackson Bend’s career mark now reads 20-7-5-2, $1,062,450.