Jackson Bend came into the Grade 1 Preakness to prove that his 12th place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) was not the norm for the ultra-consistent son of Hear No Evil, who had finished first or second in all nine of his starts prior to the Derby.

Trainer Nick Zito wanted redemption for his colt's Derby run, where he was always stuck in traffic and got bumped soundly at the top of the stretch. Things went much smoother, if not perfectly, in the Preakness. Jackson Bend bumped Yawanna Twist at the start, but recovered to secure a good position in third the first time under the wire. He continued in the same spot for the next six furlongs, tucked in behind the dueling pair of First Dude and Derby winner Super Saver. On the far turn, Jackson Bend actually dropped back to fifth when Lookin At Lucky and Caracortado swept by on the outside. Jackson Bend was full of run, but couldn't get out because of a tiring Super Saver to his outside. Once he got clear, he re-rallied to bear down on Lookin At Lucky and First Dude, coming up just three-quarters of a length from the win and a nose out of second. He earned a lifetime-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

While Zito was happy with the effort, he couldn't help be somewhat disappointed with the outcome. “He ran good. At the half-mile pole he comes running again. If we can get out (around Super Saver), it’s a different story, we win,” Zito said.

Jockey Mike Smith concurred with the trainer. “To be honest, and I’m not taking anything away from the winner, but I think I was on the best horse today. I just had to wait for some room, but when I got it, it was in deep stretch, and it cost me. He ran dynamite,” Smith said.

Regardless of the narrow loss, Jackson Bend did indeed prove that he's much better than his Derby result. He is now 5-4-1 in 11 starts, earning $817,820 for owners Robert V. LaPenta and Fred Brei.

Jackson Bend is out of the mare Sexy Stockings, who also has produced the two-time listed stakes winner Garter Belt.  

Hear No Evil currently ranks third on Florida's 2010 second crop sire list, with Jackson Bend his chief earner.

Comment on this article