Jackson Bend Racehorse Preakness Stakes Preview

Jackson Bend
5-4-0, 10 Races

Notable Past Performances

Race
Kentucky Derby (G1)
Wood Memorial (G1)
Fountain of Youth (G2)
Holy Bull (G3)

Distance
1 1/4
1 1/8
1 1/8
1

Odds
23.00
7.70
2.60
1.60

Post
13
5
5
9

End Result
12
2
2
2

Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride. That's been the story of Jackson Bend, who owned one of the last slots in the Kentucky Derby field. One look at this horse shows five wins in ten starts, which is a solid ratio. However, in anything more than your average stakes race, Jackson Bend has been consistent, finishing second in all three prep races, but never finding the winner's circle.

Many think that this could be a sneaky horse because he finished second to the now retired Eskendereya in both the Wood and the Fountain of Youth. Jackson Bend is a stalker who would prefer getting a clean break just behind the front pack. He'll probably find that he has more horses to weave through in that top pack if he gets up there, as there is a ton of speed in this year's Triple Crown races.

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Pedigree is a major concern for Jackson Bend. Neither sire Hear No Evil nor dam Sexy Stockings really produced much in their careers, and neither have any of their brood. This isn't a lineage that is conducive to distance running, those Jackson Bend really hasn't shown any signs on the track of failure to be able to run the full mile and a quarter.

One thing is for certain, and that's that Jackson Bend has a solid core around him. Trainer Nick Zito is a multiple time Kentucky Derby champion, and jockey Mike Smith was lucky enough to ride Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes after original mount, Calvin Borel elected to ride Rachel Alexandra instead. Smith won the 2005 Run for the Roses aboard Giacomo, who was the third longest shot ever to win the Derby.

Smith never really managed to get any traction at Churchill Downs with this thoroughbred, as he never got any higher than eighth position. Still, it was a bit of a sneaky run that could've been a lot cleaner, and in smaller fields at the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, he may be able to flourish if entered.