Jackie's Warrior

Jackie’s Warrior, a Maclean’s Music colt owned by J. Kirk Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen, won his debut impressively by 2 ½ lengths over Therideofalifetime on June 19 at Churchill Downs. Asmussen shipped him to the Saratoga meet and pointed him to the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite on Aug. 7, where he squared off with Therideofalifetime again as well as stablemate Cazadero, winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes.

Breaking from the outside post under Joel Rosario, Jackie’s Warrior took the early lead and set a swift pace under modest pressure. He came into the stretch of the six-furlong Saratoga Special and turned back a brief challenge from Therideofalifetime to win going away by three lengths.

Jackie’s Warrior stayed at the Spa following his impressive win and targeted the closing-day Sept. 7 Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes at seven furlongs. With Rosario aboard, he shot to the lead immediately and extended his always comfortable margin in the stretch, defeating favorite and highly regarded Reinvestment Risk by a geared-down 2 ¼ lengths and further polishing his credentials as a rising star.

In his final prep for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Jackie’s Warrior again led from start to finish in a 5 ½-length runaway to improve to 4-for-4 and earn an expenses-paid berth in the Juvenile. In the Juvenile, Jackie’s Warrior took a slim lead near the top of the stretch but faded late and finished fourth in the first defeat of his career.

Returning for his 2021 debut in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park, Jackie’s Warrior set the pace on a sloppy track but faded late and finished third in his first race off the long layoff. 

After some time off, Jackie’s Warrior resurfaced in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU on May 1 at Churchill Downs. He ran a monstrous race, reeling off very fast fractions while setting the pace on the inside, including a half-mile in 43.68 seconds. Despite the blazing tempo, he held off the challenge of Dream Shake for the victory. He covered a mile in 1:34.39. In his next start, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency on June 5, he recovered well from a bad start and engaged early leader Drain the Clock, but he could not get by him and ended up second. 

Jackie’s Warrior met up with Drain the Clock again in his next start, the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes Aug. 1 at Saratoga. Racing on a sloppy, sealed track, he once again engaged Drain the Clock for the early lead and the pair set fast fractions, reeling off a quarter-mile in 21.46 seconds. Jackie’s Warrior moved ahead of Drain the Clock in the turn and was not challenged in the stretch, romping by 7 ¼ lengths and finishing up 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.46. He improved to 3-for-3 at Saratoga with the win.

In his next start, the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes on Aug. 28, Jackie’s Warrior further proved his class with a game neck victory over Life is Good. He came through on the inside of that rival in the stretch, and wore him down for his third graded stakes win of his 3-year-old season. 

Next out, Jackie’s Warrior competed in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 25. After a brief speed duel with Real Talk, he put away that rival and drew away to win by 6 3/4 lengths. Although Joel Rosario never asked him to run at any point, he still covered six furlongs in 1:08.64.

Jackie’s Warrior went off as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Qatar Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He was pressed on a fast early pace, and stopped around the turn. He ended up sixth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. Although he disappointed in the Breeders’ Cup, Jackie’s Warrior received the Eclipse Award as 2021’s champion male sprinter based on his overall season.

Jackie’s Warrior returned to the races on April 16, 2022, in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Sent off as the 0.50-1 favorite, he broke well and dueled on the outside with Empire of Gold. He dismissed that rival and opened up a clear lead in the stretch. Although some of his rivals were closing strongly late, Jackie’s Warrior had enough to hold on and win by three-quarters of a length. He went six furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:09.09.

In his second start of 2022, Jackie’s Warrior earned a Grade 1 win for the third consecutive season when he sprinted well clear in the stretch of the $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford for a runaway victory on the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard.

Jackie’s Warrior made it 3-for-3 in 2022 with a dominant win in the Grade 2 True North Stakes June 10 at Belmont Park. He took his customary early lead, shook off mild pressure from Mr. Phil, and spurted clear in the stretch under minimal urging from Rosario en route to a five-length score over Sound Money.

Jackie’s Warrior experienced ups and downs at the 2022 Saratoga meet. He delivered a comfortable victory on July 30 in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap as jockey Joel Rosario never even asked Jackie’s Warrior to accelerate as he won a Grade 1 race at Saratoga for the third straight season. In his next out on August 27 in the $600,000 Forego Stakes, however, he was upset as the prohibitive favorite at 1-9 odds by late runner Cody's Wish and settled for second after getting caught in a battle for the lead much of the seven-furlong race.

The final start of Jackie's Warrior's career was in the 2022 Grade 1 $1 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint. Jackie's Warrior was sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the field of 11 horses. He chased a solid pace but had no answer for the top two finishers and concluded his career with a third-place finish. It was the third straight year Jackie's Warrior had lost a Breeders' Cup race as the heavy favorite.

Robison bought Jackie’s Warrior for $95,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling auction. He is out of the 19-time winning A. P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl.