Minnesota-bred 3-year-old Mr. Jagermeister last raced on Feb. 10 at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 San Vicente.
His trainer Valorie Lund had hopes of competing with the quality sprinters who were entered and envisioned a race where her colt sat off the pace in the early stages of the 7 furlong journey. The race unfolded differently and jockey Geovanni Franco quickly was on the lead with last year’s Northern Lights Futurity winner, locked in battle with the 2 to 5 favorite Ax Man through fractions of 22 flat and 44.25. Neither lasted the trip, with Mr. Jagermeister finishing sixth and last and Ax Man in fourth, 16 lengths from the winner on a day where sprint speed was not holding.
Lund thought a race like that might take its toll but he “took it very well” she said. He “didn’t drop a ton of weight” and “bounced back very well.”
So much so that Lund has entered Mr. Jagermeister at Turf Paradise for Monday in a 5 ½ furlong optional claiming race, the seventh event on an eight race card that begins at 1:55 PM Central.
Lund was eager to get him back to the races. “Based on how well he came out I thought I’d find a softer spot,” she said with the plan of the Monday race being a form of “heart repair.”
Andrew Ramgeet, who was aboard in all but the Santa Anita start, will ride. Post time for the race is 4:43.
Mr. Jagermeister is the most accomplished in terms of purse earnings in the nine-horse field, with $103,345. His career best Beyer Speed Figure of 90, earned in the Shakopee Juvenile where he ran second to Amy’s Challenge, is 17 points higher than any of the rest. The morning line has him as the prohibitive favorite at 2 to 5.
