Jerkens

Love the man!

Go Unbridled repeats in Saratoga Dew for trainer Allen Jerkens
By Jon Forbes
NYRAGo Unbridled made a steady advance from off the pace to defend her title in the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares on Monday and give Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens his first victory of the 2013 Saratoga Race Course meet.

Looking to return to the winner's circle for the first time since her 2012 Saratoga Dew triumph, Go Unbridled raced in fourth behind fractions of 24.53 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.67 for the half. She advanced into third with 3 ½ furlongs to travel, took over in upper stretch, and was driven home by jockey Junior Alvarado en route to 2 ¾-length triumph over Lady On the Run.

Off as the 3-1 second choice, Go Unbridled returned $8.60 for a $2 win wager and completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.68.

"It takes a good horse," said Jerkens, 84, who entered the winner's circle to a round of applause. "They have to be doing good at the time. I know you say the jockey wins for you, but he really rode her good. She was just where she needed to be all the time. She had to be up there closer with the slower pace today. It was right. It was great."

It was the 3,845th career victory for Jerkens, who began his training career in 1950. Jerkens won the Saratoga training title for three straight years from 1971-73 and tied for a fourth title in 1978. In 1973, he saddled Onion for a stunning upset of Secretariat in the Whitney Handicap at the Spa. Last year, he won the Grade 1 Prioress with Emma's Encore in addition to his Saratoga Dew score with Go Unbridled.

"It means a lot more [to win] at Saratoga," said Jerkens. "Every place you win and anytime you win a stake, it's just great. I've always been that way [emotional in the winner's circle]. You think of all the times when you didn't do nothing, you know? Well, we've had our bad days [but] we've come around, and that's what counts. This is the first one we've won here [this year], so we're off the duck."

Go Unbridled improved her record to 5-4-7 from 26 starts. Her victory, worth $60,000, lifted her career earnings to $385,410.

"These kinds of races are what it's all about," said Alvarado. "Not really the fact that it's a stake race, just what it means to win for him and to win at this track."

Mischief Maker finished third and was followed home by Dreaming of Cara, Tahoe Tigress, Shesabronxbomber, and Guyana Princess.


Go Unbridled
PHOTO/Adam Coglianese


Barbara D. Livingston