Jack's Promise, who is finally living up to his name, exploded in the stretch to take the $105,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park in front-running fashion Feb. 21.
At odds of 11-1, the 4-year-old son of Promises Fulfilled vied for the early lead under jockey Rajiv Maragh. He broke on the lead but soon dropped to second behind Rolando, who set early fractions of :22.15 and :45.29. As they left the turn and moved into the stretch drive, Jack's Promise moved off the rail to confront Rolando. He kicked clear and widened the margin to win by 3 lengths at the wire, earning his second straight win.
"We always knew he had a lot of talent, but he'd just throw those clunkers in there (and) we never understood why," trainer Dale Romans said. "But he won five races last year and he just started putting it all together. He's the horse we thought he was earlier."
Jack's Promise completed the 6-furlong race in 1:10.47 on a track rated fast. He paid $24.80 for his mild upset in the Gulfstream Park Sprint.
Hall of Famer Bill Mott sent out the favorite, 6-year-old Damon's Mound, who finished a fast-closing second after starting the race off a step slow and trailing the field. Rolando was another 3 lengths back in third after fading, holding off Con Compania. Jose D'Angelo's Wound Up, who was the second choice in betting pools, bumped with Damon's Mound at the start and tracked the pace, but stopped and finished last.
Out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Treasure, Jack's Promise is a homebred for owner Baron Thoroughbreds. He moves to six wins from 16 lifetime starts with earnings of $300,405 in his 4-year-old debut, getting the win on his first try in stakes company, and is now 3-for-4 over the Gulfstream Park main track.
Jack's Promise is by Promises Fulfilled, who was owned and trained by the same connections. He won the 2018 edition of the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), which took them to the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. After finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby, they cut him back in distance. He went on to get his top-level victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Third-crop sire Promises Fulfilled stands the 2026 season at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for $2,500.
"He's a homebred for Bob and our own sire, so it's all good stuff," Romans said of Jack's Promise. "It was a big effort last time. He's put in two big ones back-to-back. The sky's the limit with him. He's got a lot of potential."
