Jackson Bend Pointing to BC Dirt Mile

10/2/2011 7:35 PM  | horseracingnation.com
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Jackson Bend (no. 2), ridden by Corey Nakatani and trained by Nick Zito, wins the James Marvin Stakes for three year olds and upward on July 22, 2011 at Saratoga Race Track in Saratoga Springs, New York. (Bob Mayberger/Eclipse Sportswire) Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito reported Sunday morning that Robert LaPenta's Jackson Bend, second to Uncle Mo in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap; Bankers Buy, fourth to Havre de Grace in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational, and Ice Box, who lost contact with the field early on and finished last in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, all came out of their respective races in good order.

Jackson Bend, winner of the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on September 3, will continue to be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, said Zito, while Ice Box could take up the LaPenta banner against Uncle Mo in the Classic.

"It was great running against Uncle Mo," said Zito. "Everyone knows about Uncle Mo. But I think Jackson proved something yesterday. People saw how good he was. Spotting him the four pounds, that was a big thing. Right now, if Uncle Mo runs in the Classic like they say he's going to, Jackson is going to be one of the choices [for the Dirt Mile]. He won't be worse than third [choice]. That's good enough.

"It's been wonderful, his last three races," said Zito of Jackson Bend, who won the seven-furlong James Marvin on opening day at Saratoga Race Course. "You can't give the horse enough credit. He's such a small guy, but so amazing. So far, so good. There were great preps yesterday for Breeders' Cup day. You couldn't ask for a better place to run your horses if you're going to the Breeders Cup. I was grateful and happy about everything."

In the 1 ¼-mile Classic, Ice Box would be returning to the scene of his most memorable performance, closing from second-to-last, more than 20 lengths back, to finish second to Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

"It's his favorite track and probably be his last race, maybe, you never know, so why not?" said Zito. "He's trained good, he's fit now, he's got all the races and Corey [Nakatani] basically said he made a mistake [being that far back early on]."

 

 

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