Talent rich field set for G1 H. Allen Jerkens

by Najja Thompson

Featuring nine of the best 3-year-old sprinters in the nation, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens, formerly known as the King's Bishop, is one of six Grade 1 races from seven stakes overall on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, highlighted by the 148th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers.

Entering from the barn of current meet leader Todd Pletcher and owners Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners is Coal Front. Purchased for $575,000 as a 2-year-old, the Stay Thirsty colt impressively won his debut by 6 ½ lengths going six furlongs on April 17 at Keeneland and followed up to take an allowance race on June 8 at Belmont Park. 

Last time out, he bested a field of six to win the Grade 2 Amsterdam on July 29, earning a personal best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. In a field in which three fellow entrants have also posted triple-digit Beyer figures, Pletcher knows the importance of drawing a good spot.

"I think with this race, post position is very important," said Pletcher. "He's not one who is going to be way off the pace, but if he draws outside that will provide him some options. There's a lot of speed in the race with him and Takaful and American Anthem, so, at seven-eighths races with a lot of pace, position is key."

With Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons, the pair will leave from post 7.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will saddle Shadwell Stables' Takaful. A homebred son of Bernardini, Takaful made an eye-catching debut as a 2-year-old last October at Belmont to win by 8 lengths. Following that race he then stretched out to two turns in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct Racetrack where he finished third and kicked off his 2017 season on the Triple Crown trail with pair of subpar efforts in the Grade 3 Jerome at the Big A and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream in which he finished seventh and eighth respectively. 

Cutting back to one turn in his most recent start, Takaful blew away eight rivals in an allowance race on July 21 at Saratoga to win by 5 ¼ lengths and record a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. McLaughin reports his entrant is primed for another big effort heading into Saturday's race.

"He seems to be most effective at one-turn distances," said McLaughlin. "He's fast but he doesn't have to be on the lead. Jose [Ortiz] knows him know and his last was fabulous. He's won over this track, which is important, and it's a step up from an allowance race to a Grade 1 obviously, but we feel like he belongs and is doing very well so we're happy with him."

Drawing post 2, Takaful will be ridden by current meet leading rider Jose Ortiz.

Shipping in from California for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and WinStar Farm, Head of Plains Partners, China Horse Club and SF Racing Group is American Anthem. A Bodemeister colt who was cut back in distance after a 12th place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, he is undefeated at seven furlongs, taking the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera on May 13 at Santa Anita and the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park on June 10.

With Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard, American Anthem will leave from post 9.

Also looking to capitalize on a turnback in distance is Practical Joke who runs for trainer Chad Brown and owners Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence with Practical Joke.  Since running fifth in the Kentucky Derby, the son of Into Mischief returned finishing strongly to win at a mile in the Grade 3 Dwyer on June 10 at Belmont Park. Stretching out to a mile and eighth for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 30 in his most recent start in which he finished third, Brown is hoping the multiple graded stakes winner will handle the turnback in distance returning to the Spa, where he broke his maiden and won the Grade 1 Hopeful as a 2-year-old.

"He's been training very well up here since the Haskell," said Brown. "It's certainly a lot to ask cutting back to seven-eighths from the mile and an eighth distance, but he's had success running here before and he's really been doing well up here so we're up to the challenge."

Drawing the rail, Practical Joke will have the services of Joel Rosario.

Rounding out the field is the Arnaud Delacour-trained No Dozing, who enters off a win in the Concern Stakes on July 22 and Laurel Park; Phi Beta Express for trainer Danny Gargan and trainer Martin Cherry, who last out won by eight lengths on July 23; Ann Arbor Eddie for trainer Doug O'Neill and Reddam Racing; Tale of Silence for trainer Barclay Tagg and owner Charles Fipke; and Wild Shot for trainer Rusty Arnold and Calumet Farm.