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.

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.