Jackson Bend,
winner of the James Marvin at Saratoga
on opening day, turned in a bullet half-mile work on Friday in preparation for
the Grade 1, seven-furlong Forego on Saturday, September 3. Sent out under
exercise rider Maxine Correa, Jackson Bend was clocked in 47.22 seconds,
fastest of 41 works at the distance over the Oklahoma training track.
“It was great, so we’re happy about that,” said Hall
of Famer Nick Zito, who trains the colt for Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei.
“It looked like he maintained everything. If he has a good week, we
should be OK. I was definitely looking for something to maintain that form that
he had. He worked on the training track, that’s good, and it looks like
he didn’t lose anything from the race, looks like he had a good month, so
we’ll hope everything works out.”
A son of Hear No Evil, the 4-year-old Jackson Bend is a veteran of the
2010 Triple Crown trail who finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby and
was beaten just three-quarters of a length when third in the Preakness. The
seven-furlong James Marvin was his first start under a mile since his juvenile
season, and he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for the effort.