Bob and Jackie © Benoit Photo
Zayat Stable’s homebred Bob and Jackie, making the first start of his 4-year-old season, was up in time to tally be a neck Saturday in Del Mar’s feature Wickerr Stakes at a mile on the lawn.
The bay colt, prominently placed by rider Heriberto Figueroa throughout, found an extra gear inside the eighth pole and just nailed frontrunner Kiwi’s Dream, Victor Trujillo’s Northern California shipper who made all the fractions and just missed the steal. Finishing third was R3Racing, Calara Farms or Rothblum’s longshot Murad Khan.
Bob and Jackie, who runs out of the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, was making his seventh start, all on grass, and scoring his fourth win. The Kentucky-bred had won a pair of minor stakes last year and now may be ready for bigger and better in 2020.
Bob and Jackie paid $18.40, $9.60 and $7.00. Kiwi’s Dream paid $5.80 and $4.40 and Murad Khan returned $9.40.
The splits were :21.76, :45.08, 1:08.99, 1:21.27 with a final time of 1:33.35.
By capturing the Wickerr, Bob and Jackie picked up a check for $41,700, which improved his earnings to $176,551.
HERIBERTO FIGUEROA (Bob and Jackie, winner) – “He came back running. He ran really well. When he changed leads, he dug in. He was running hard at the finish and I knew I was going to win. One time last year when he was training, he hurt himself a little bit as he was changing leads. And since, he’s still a little shy about it. But once we get him to do that, he comes on. I’ve ridden this horse every time (seven for seven) and I really like him.”
RICHARD BALTAS (Bob and Jackie, winner) – “I’m driving in a rainstorm in Kentucky right now, but I did see the race. I knew there would be a hot pace, but I told (jockey Heriberto Figueroa) don’t strangle him, let him go. He can be a little headstrong, but he’s a free-running horse. Credit to (Figueroa); he did a good job. He (Bob and Jackie) has had some issues and it’s been a long time (between races), but he’s sound now and it’s good to see him win.”
FRACTIONS: :21.76 :45.08 1:08.99 1:21.27 1:33.35
This is the second stakes win at Del Mar for Figueroa and his first in the Wickerr.
This is the 15 stakes win at Del Mar for Baltas and his first in the Wickerr.
The winner is owned by his breeder, Ahmed Zayat, who has homes in Teaneck, NJ, New York City, London and Egypt.