Jack Christopher

Jack Christopher, a Munnings colt owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, turned heads during the summer 2021 Saratoga Race Course meet when he won a six-furlong maiden race in his first appearance on the track by 8 ¾ lengths. Trainer Chad Brown next pointed Jack Christopher to the $500,000, Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 2, a prestigious one-turn mile race that was held for the 150^th time in 2021.

Jockey Jose Ortiz settled Jack Christopher just off of pacesetting Runhappy Hopeful Stakes winner Gunite into the far turn, and Jack Christopher dispatched that foe and kicked clear in early stretch en route to a 2 ¾-length victory. He earned an automatic berth in the Nov. 5 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with the win via the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.

Jack Christopher missed the Breeders' Cup due to a shin injury, and did not return to the races until May 7, 2022. Despite the long layoff, he went off as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU. He rated off the pace in the two-path, then took control in the stretch and pulled clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths. 

Kentucky-bred Jack Christopher is out of the Half Ours mare Rushin No Blushin, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Street Boss. He sold for $125,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Keeneland sale in 2020.