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Heart, class, talent, guts. A horse like this is the kind you dream of each day in this sport.

Expertise, loyalty, patience. People like these are the kind you work to surround yourself with.

Pure joy. Moments like this are what happens when it all comes together.

Preservationist put forth a phenomenal effort to become a Grade 1 winner, forcing his way through traffic to take the prestigious Woodward at Saratoga Race Course. The six-year-old’s success at the highest level is the result of considerable horsemanship by the team in Middleburg and the Jimmy Jerkens barn coupled with patience by his partners, who understood the value of putting the horse first. Expertly piloted by Junior Alvardo, Preservationist confirmed his standing as one of the nation’s top older horses with a victory over a field that included the race’s defending champ and two subsequent G1 winners.

BloodHorse – “Preservationist Prevails in Woodward”
Daily Gazette – “Preservationist on best behavior in Woodward”
Daily Racing Form – “Preservationist breaks through in gutsy Woodward win”
NYRA – “Preservationist’s stretch-drive surge caps thrilling finish in G1 Woodward presented by NYRA Bets”
Saratoga Special – “Long Road – Preservationist Lands Woodward”
Thoroughbred Daily News – “Preservationist All Heart in the Woodward“

A mini rainbow appears as the Saratoga crowd applauds for a big performance from @Centennial_Farm’s Preservationist! What a race #Woodward @NYRABets pic.twitter.com/ZbF1QjZDUb

— NYRA (@TheNYRA) August 31, 2019

Go Preservationist go!!!!! So so proud of this horse!! https://t.co/VbRzJ4XeB6
— Jordyn Wells (@jordynwells94) August 31, 2019

That was a wing-ding of a Woodward at Saratoga. Nice to see the patience of @J_JerkensRacing rewarded with first G1 win for Preservationist, 6yo horse by Arch. Gutsy ride by @Juniorjockey and congrats to Don Little and the @Centennial_Farm partners. Longshot Bal Harbour second.
— Ray Paulick (@raypaulick) August 31, 2019

 

Great win for @J_JerkensRacing and @Centennial_Farm as @Juniorjockey gives Preservationist a sensational ride to win the Woodward. Congrats all around
— Andy Serling (@andyserling) August 31, 2019

 

What a horse he is how lucky am I ??….. Baby Preservationist learning the ropes way back when In Middleburg VA @Centennial_Farm @Peter_Horvitz @MargaretOMeara1 @DocShirlJ @J_JerkensRacing @SPNnation74 pic.twitter.com/BEelGGOXd5
— Aoife Brazil (@bbrazila) September 1, 2019

 

Was sitting in front of the Preservationist contingent for the Woodward (gratuitous seat location drop), but in all seriousness, they had at least 6 boxes, and the screams they let out went further than dollars and cents. Real cool. @Centennial_Farm @J_JerkensRacing @Juniorjockey
— Kevin Cox (@brooklyncowboy1) September 1, 2019

So happy to see all the attention and love given to Preservationist, @Centennial_Farm and @J_JerkensRacing for yesterday. Their accomplishments stand on their own, but I like to think I had a hand in increasing their fanbase over the years.

?#humblebragJuba

— Juba (the Gray) (@Jubacolt) September 1, 2019

 

Preservationist’s win in the Woodward Stakes is our @SentientJet Perfect Trip of the Week! Take a look back at yesterday’s performance. pic.twitter.com/p4IHLX6KZa

— TVG (@TVG) September 1, 2019

That was one helluva ride by @Juniorjockey on Preservationist and a great training job by @J_JerkensRacing winning the Woodward for top stable @Centennial_Farm. Very brave performance muscling his way between horses in deep stretch. That’s what racing is all about!

— Richard Migliore (@RichardMigliore) August 31, 2019

 

Preservationist does it! Congrats to @Centennial_Farm, @Juniorjockey and Jimmy Jerkens for their spectacular score in the Woodward Stakes @TheNYRA. pic.twitter.com/0Cz95PhYgI

— America’sBestRacing (@ABRLive) August 31, 2019

Preservationist, ridden by @Juniorjockey and trained by Jimmy Jerkens, wins the 66th running of the Woodward Grade I Stakes #SaratogaRaceCourse #Saratoga @Centennial_Farm pic.twitter.com/jn4CAvNxcw

— Erica Miller (@EricaPhotog) August 31, 2019

Sometimes there are no words – just gratitude and awe. Preservationist’s stakes debut as a long time coming, and he didn’t disappoint. Preservationist blew the doors off of a talented field, including G1 winners Catholic Boy and Pavel, in the G2 Suburban. Everything about the performance was sublime, including the authoritative margin of victory (4 1/2-lengths) and sparkling final time (1:59.99). The performance, beneath regular rider Junior Alvarado, instantly stamped him as one of the nation’s best older horses. We couldn’t be more grateful to the phenomenal horsemen and women, headed by Jimmy Jerkens, Paula Parsons, and Dr. Carr, who have developed Preservationist, and the partners who let it happen. Read more:

• “Preservationist upsets Catholic Boy in Suburban“
• “Preservationist’s big breakthrough and other weekend stakes notes“
• “Preservationist more of an attitude than a name“

Surely in some language the name “Jerkens” translates to “patience.” 6yo career top (and what a top it was) from Preservationist.

— Marcus Hersh (@DRFHersh) July 6, 2019

Preservationist finally delivers on that limitless potential and rewards @J_JerkensRacing‘s and @Centennial_Farm‘s patience. That was a beautiful ride by @juniorjockey who didn’t panic when Catholic Boy make that early move. 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 4/5 is pretty impressive.

— David Aragona (@HorseToWatch) July 6, 2019

Nice to see the patience that @J_JerkensRacing and @Centennial_Farm displayed with Preservationist pay off in a Suburban (how is this not a G1) Stakes. Nice ride by @Juniorjockey as well.

— David Grening (@DRFGrening) July 6, 2019

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.

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%.