Jackson Bend, from the first crop of Journeyman stallion Hear No Evil, had another strong showing in a Kentucky Derby prep race, running second to likely Derby favorite Eskendereya in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Earlier this winter, Jackson Bend placed in both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Jackson Bend has been a model of consistency to this point, never finishing worse than second in nine career starts. He won five consecutive races at Calder in 2009, including three stakes as part of the Florida Stallion Series. In the Wood, Jackson Bend tackled Fountain of Youth winner Eskendereya, as well as the Gotham (G3) champ Awesome Act and Schoolyard Dreams, unlucky loser of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

The Wood played out much like the Fountain of Youth, with Jackson Bend in a stalking position for the majority of the 1 1/8-mile race. Jackson Bend showed his fighting spirit in the stretch when Awesome Act actually got his head in front, but Jackson Bend fought back to get the place spot. He earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, his best of 2010. He has now earned $707,820 for owners Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei.

Afterwards, trainer Nick Zito was looking forward to moving on to Churchill Downs. “For Jackson Bend, you cannot give him enough credit. We’re going to take him to Kentucky and see what happens. No one can say that this horse doesn’t belong there. Nobody.”

Jackson Bend's sire Hear No Evil currently ranks third on Florida's second-crop sire list, behind only a pair of Journeyman  stallions in Wildcat Heir and Consolidator.

Jackson Bend is out of Sexy Stockings, who has produced two stakes winners from as many foals to race. Her dam, Lottsa Talc, was as solid a racemare as has been around for the past 20 years. She raced 65 times, and was first or second in an incredible 31 stakes races.

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