Go Tiger Jack Best in Barksdale at LAD in Stakes Debut

by Sarah Mace

Melissa Cantacuzene’s Go Tiger Jack, a four-year-old John Hettinger-bred gelding by Victory Gallop, outran the competition in the stretch at Louisiana Downs on Saturday to win 34^th running of the $50,000 Barksdale Stakes going a mile on the turf in his first stakes appearance.

Coming into the Barksdale, Go Tiger Jack had a strong and consistent record behind him in 20 prior starts for trainer Ralph Irwin, including 13 on-the-board performances. After knocking on the door as a juvenile to secure his first win in 2009, he broke his maiden going six furlongs against elders in March of last year in a $30,000 maiden claiming race at Oaklawn Park. Hitting the board in six of 10 races in 2010 and winning three, he started twice on the turf, meanwhile passing through his first and second-level allowance conditions in back-to-back starts. Racing in conditioned optional claimers this year, he ran third twice at Lone Star on the turf and, last out, won an off-the-turf event at 1 mile and 70 yards at Louisiana Downs on June 23.

Drawn in post three of 10 for the Barksdale with Alex Beitia aboard, Go Tiger Jack ran a reserved race early, settling in at the rail four lengths off the pace through first turn and down the backstretch run, leaving five others to vie for the lead up front through strong early fractions of 23.00 and 47.55.

Steadily making up ground on the inside and catching up with the vanguard by the far turn, Go Tiger Jack swung out three wide at the top of the lane and closed steadily and confidently, passing his rivals and then opening up to cross the wire with a length advantage. He stopped the clock at 1:35.80 after a mile on the firm turf.

Go Tiger Jack’s fifth career victory and first stakes win improved his record to 21-5-4-5 and increased his career earnings to $118,392. Overlooked in the wagering, he paid $39.40 for a $2 wager to win.

Foaled at Hettinger’s Akindale Farm[2] in Pawling, now actively involved in the mission of thoroughbred rescue, rehab and retraining, Go Tiger Jack is the third foal and second winner out of Hussy, a multiple winner by Unaccounted For. His other winning sibling, Do the Tiger (Hold the Tiger) is an eight-time winner (once on turf) of $106,891. Hussy has an unraced two-year-old filly by City Zip and a yearling colt by Suave. She was bred this year to Include.

Cantacuzene acquired Go Tiger Jack at the 2009 John Franks Memorial Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Evangeline Downs for $9,000. He had previously sold as a Fasig-Tipton Timonium select yearling for $16,500.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2011/08/07/go-tiger-jack-barksdale/

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