Unraced since February. Tough group. Rail draw. Slop. No problem. Preservationist rallied up the rail and powered home to an impressive 1 1/2-length score at Belmont Park. It is endlessly gratifying to see this talented horse display the talent we have long believed he had. Everyone at Centennial Farms is grateful to have such incredible partners who have been happy to let him develop at his own rate and world-class horsemen and women orchestrating that possibility.
Sometimes all you can say is wow! Candygram delivered that kind of performance at Belmont Park, powering clear to a 5 1/2-length victory despite drifting out and being geared down late. The victory drew rave reviews and stamps this talented colt as one to watch down the line.
Candygram (2-1) drifts out in stretch but was still quite impressive taking this second-level allowance, running a mile in 1:34.45 under a hold from @Juniorjockey and he galloped out like a train for @J_JerkensRacing and @Centennial_Farm
— David Grening (@DRFGrening) May 17, 2019
That was a seriously impressive score by Candygram. He dueled Its All Relevant into the ground and kicked for home better than the closers. There could be graded stakes on the horizon for this guy if he keeps it up.
— David Aragona (@HorseToWatch) May 17, 2019
That was a HUGE win for @Centennial_Farm’s Candygram for @J_JerkensRacing and @Juniorjockey. Tough as it’s coming up, they still have to consider the Met Mile.
— Andy Serling (@andyserling) May 17, 2019
Jaywalker has begun a regular breeze schedule.
WORKOUTS:
01/31 – 3f:38.0 (Palm Meadows),
02/20 – 3f:39.80 (Palm Meadows),
02/26 – 3f:38.45 (Palm Meadows),
03/06 – 3f:37.45 (Palm Meadows),
03/13 – 4f:51.40 (Palm Meadows),
04/05 – 4f:52.11 (Belmont Park),
04/11 – 4f:50.58 (Belmont Park),
04/18 – 4f:50.54 (Belmont Park),
04/26 – 4f:50.66 (Belmont Park)
Emergent has begun a regular breeze schedule.
WORKOUTS:
01/12 – 3f:39.0 (Palm Meadows),
01/19 – 4f:49.95 (Palm Meadows),
01/29 – 4f:50.5 (Palm Meadows),
02/06 – 4f:49.90 (Palm Meadows),
02/12 – 4f:49.20 (Palm Meadows),
02/20 – 5f:1:03.0 (Palm Meadows),
03/02 – 5f:1:01.0 (Palm Meadows turf),
03/10 – 5f:1:03.75 (Palm Meadows),
03/16 – 4f:50.50 (Palm Meadows),
03/23 – 6f:1:18.20 (Palm Meadows turf),
04/05 – 7f:1:35.60 (Belmont Park),
04/14 – 4f:48.75 ( Belmont Park),
04/24 – 5f:1:02.69 (Belmont Park)
The Palm Meadows-based horses and the Jimmy Jerkens crew that cares for them have made their way back to beautiful Belmont Park for the season. It didn’t take long for them to make it to the winner’s at Aqueduct. Candygram, who ran well in two Gulfstream Park efforts, cruised to a comfortable 5 1/2-length allowance victory. The victory places Centennial Farms’ at an impressive 30% win rate as racing action prepares to move back to Elmont through mid-July.
WORKOUTS:
Six-year-old Preservationist, making his second start following an eleventh-month layoff, rewarded the faith of his patient team with a thrilling victory at Aqueduct! Everyone at Centennial Farms is grateful to have phenomenal partners who understand the value of waiting in order to get Preservationist back to the races. Paula Parsons and her team have done their usual outstanding work during his visits to Middleburg, allowing Jimmy Jerkens and the New York-based crew to capitalize. Here’s hoping he continues to deliver!
The victory by Preservationist also marked Centennial’s fourth of the young year… from just eight starts! Two other on-the-board performances have our top three percentage sitting at 75%.
Following a couple hard-luck efforts at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park, popular Illudere came through with an exciting victory to kick off his four-year-old season. His win continued a remarkable run for the Centennial Farms team and partners – our third win from from five starts to kick off 2019, with a second and a third!
What a way to kick off the new year! Mihos proved his status as a Thoroughbred Daily News “Rising Star” was on the money, digging in to prevail in his stakes debut. BloodHorse and TDN have more on the thrilling victory.
Mihos’s victory was one of two races to kick off the new year for our team and partners. The patient partners behind Preservationist welcomed their promising horse back to the races at Aqueduct. The talented six-year-old finish third to a stakes winner, sprinting in the slop, making his first start in eleven months.
Rocketry’s late season surge, capped by a victory in the G2 Marathon presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, led the way during a terrific 2018 season for Centennial Farms and our loyal partners. The hard work by Paula Parsons and Dr. Carr in diligently selecting world-class athletes to prepare and oversee resulted in a whopping fourteen victories once in the hands of Jimmy Jerkens. Nearly 30% of our starters were winners over the course of the year, with over 50% finishing in the top three. We were absolutely thrilled to bring our partners to the winner’s circle at some of the nation’s most prestigious meetings, including a trio of victories at unrivaled Saratoga and a victory during the first of two Breeders’ Cup cards. Here’s to more success in 2019!
