Jackson Bend is now assured of a spot in the gate for Kentucky Derby 136 after Rule was declared from the race on Monday morning. The son of Hear No Evil had been sitting at 21st on the Derby graded earnings list, which is what determines which horses will run in the race limited to 20 starters. The Derby post position draw will be held at Churchill Downs on Wed., Apr. 28 at noon Eastern time.

Trainer Nick Zito, who won the Derby in 1991 with Strike the Gold and in 1994 with Go For Gin, was naturally elated. “He’s certainly worthy of a start, that’s for sure, being second two times to Eskendereya in two big races – the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Wood Memorial (G1). He’s kind of a gem of consistency, that’s what we want. So we’ve got to be happy about that,” Zito said.

Zito's referral to consistency couldn't have been more on target. His chestnut colt has a record of 5-4-0 in nine starts, with lifetime earnings of $707,820. Jackson Bend, who is from the first crop by his sire, is owned by Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei.

His Hall of Fame trainer went on to say Jackson Bend earned his spot the hard way.

“He never skipped an opportunity to get in the Derby. He didn’t take an easy way out, not that there’s an easy way. He ran in the Holy Bull (G3), the Fountain of Youth and then the Wood Memorial, and he catches a horse like Eskendereya,” he said. “He really didn’t duck anybody to get in this particular field. With a deep field, I’m just happy that he gets an opportunity, because he never runs a bad race.”

Another Hall of Famer, jockey Mike Smith, who won the 2005 Derby on Giacomo, has the mount on Jackson Bend.

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