Englishman Maintains Dominance in Jerkens Memorial

Just as he did in June in capturing the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, C R K Stable's Englishman dazzled once again there in the $485,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 on Travers day. Quickly asserting himself in the 7-furlong race, Englishman opened up a commanding lead over the opening furlong, settled down to carve out splits of :23.01 and :45.50, then left his four 3-year-old rivals behind when urged by Jose Ortiz through the stretch. He won under a hand ride, pulling clear with a 6-furlong split in 1:08.40 and a final time of 1:20.71 over a fast track. He paid $2.82 to win as the favorite. Juddmonte's Deep Flame gave brave chase throughout, but was no match, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner. He finished 7 3/4 lengths ahead of Spendthrift Farm's Local Knowledge in third. Both horses brought last-out stakes-winning form into Saturday's race, but could not threaten Englishman. Stickupwithoutagun, who broke a bit awkwardly, and Amberjack rounded out the order of finish in the short field. Ortiz noted the pace of the Jerkens was much slower than the 7-furlong Woody Stephens, when Englishman blitzed a half-mile in :43.97 on his way to a track record-setting performance in 1:20.40. "But today it was a smaller field, and I was able to just cruise around there," he said. "I was very happy with where I was. Beautiful. It was amazing. "For him to put together two (top) performances back-to-back here at Saratoga is very remarkable. I think he's very, very, very good." Winning trainer Cherie DeVaux praised Ortiz for his role in "just developing him to be an elite-level horse." Englishman is widely considered the country's top 3-year-old sprinter and one of the leading prospects for the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. He is now 4-1-0 in five starts with earnings of $794,500. His only loss was a runner-up finish in the May 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in his only race beyond 7 furlongs. Englishman is untested in races outside his age group. DeVaux was noncommittal regarding whether Englishman would race again before the Breeders' Cup, saying she wants to review how he exits the race. His effort Saturday came after more than two months off. Along with Indiana Oaks (G3) winner Maximum Offer, Englishman is one of two graded stakes winners this summer for Maxfield, who stood this past breeding season for $50,000 at Darley near Lexington. Bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, Englishman is the fourth winner from four starters produced from the Speightstown mare In It for the Gold, who is out of the stakes-winning, grade 1-placed mare All Due Respect. In It for the Gold is owned by Country Life Farm, headed by Mike and Josh Pons. Mayberry Farm purchased Englishman for $400,000 from the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2024. Besides buying for Lee and Susan Searing of C R K Stable, Mayberry Farm breaks and provides early training for their runners.