Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

Jack and Noah continues Big Apple success to win Friday’s Sir Cat

by Brian Bohl

Gary Barber’s Jack and Noah returned to the site of his debut win in September by setting fast fractions and finishing strong for a gate-to-wire one-length victory in Friday’s $80,000 Sir Cat for 3-year-olds going six furlongs at Belmont Park.

The French-bred gray colt again earned a trip to the winner’s circle in the Big Apple, leading the seven-horse field of sophomores through an opening quarter-mile in 21.57 seconds and the half in 43.84 over the firm inner turf course with Turned Aside in close pursuit.

Jack and Noah, under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, held his edge into the stretch and didn’t back down when Turned Aside applied pressure from the outside, hitting the wire in a final time of 1:07.05, coming close to Tombelaine’s course record of 1:06.74 set in June 2018.

Jack and Noah, who won the Atlantic Beach in November at Aqueduct Racetrack for newly elected Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, is 3-for-4 when racing on a NYRA track. 

Velazquez had worked Jack and Noah before his debut but was unavailable for the race due to riding commitments for stakes action in California. With a chance to reunite, Velazquez said that optimism for his juvenile year was warranted.  

“I worked him as a 2-year-old and thought 'man, this is a nice horse. Who the heck is this?’ Velazquez said. “I was told I could ride him in a couple weeks. A couple weeks? One year later. I went out of town to ride and never saw the horse again. It was worth the wait.

“We knew he was quick, but I didn't know he was going to open up like that,” he added. “I tried to settle him the best I could. I spoke to Mark yesterday and he said to just let him do his thing and try for a little give and take in the first part, but don't take too much of a hold of him and he was right. That is his type of race; just let them come and get him.”

Last out, Jack and Noah ran second to Sir Cat-rival Chimney Rock in a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint at Churchill Downs on May 17. He turned the tables in the Sir Cat, improving to 3-1-0 in six career starts.

“If he’s right, he can get the three-quarters and he did that,” said Casse assistant Jamie Begg. “He was pretty relaxed up front and he was happy. Nobody really pressed him, so it worked out well for us. He galloped out huge. It was a pretty nice performance. He just has God-given speed, so everything that we do with him is just to try and make him relax as much as possible.”

Off at 2-1, Jack and Noah returned $6.10 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $165,500.

Turned Aside, trained by Linda Rice, bested Old Chestnut by one length for second.

Maxwell Esquire, Guildsman, 2-1 favorite Chimney Rock and So Street completed the order of finish. Mr. Shortandsimple was scratched. 

Saturday at Belmont Park will feature six graded stakes, highlighted by the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes in Race 10 at 5:42 p.m. Eastern. Bolstering the 12-race slate, which kicks off at 11:45 a.m., will be three additional Grade 1s leading up to the opener of the Triple Crown series, with the $250,000 Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm, the $300,000 Longines Acorn and the $250,000 Jaipur [presented by America's Best Racing], a "Win and You're In" qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Turf, providing a full day of racing. 

FOX Sports will offer 4 ½-hours of live coverage Saturday, providing expert commentary and behind-the-scenes insight on America's Day at the Races. The coverage, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., will sandwich NBC's live broadcast of Belmont Stakes Day from 2:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.