CHAMPION JACKIE’S WARRIOR RETURNS A WINNER IN SATURDAY’S COUNT FLEET

The Trophy Presentation for the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3)

Photo credit: Coady Photography

CHAMPION JACKIE’S WARRIOR RETURNS A WINNER IN SATURDAY’S COUNT FLEET

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Saturday, April 16, 2022) – On the day Oaklawn honored 16 members of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, it was fitting that Hall of Famer and 11-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen earned his fourth victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) with champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Jackie’s Warrior took the lead from the start and never looked back, setting fractions of :21 3/5 and :44 2/5 for the first half mile, while under slight pressure from Empire of Gold. The champion opened up a comfortable lead entering the stretch and had plenty left to hold off the fast closing Letsgetlucky by three-quarters of length in a final time of 1:09 for six furlongs over a sloppy track. Chipofftheoldblock was third, while 8-5 second choice, Bob’s Edge, winner of two stakes this meet, was fourth.

Jackie’s Warrior, who was making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) last fall, improved his record to 9-1-1 in 13 starts and has now earned $1,853,964 for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison. He returned $3, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 1-2 favorite.

There will be no live racing Sunday, April 17 in observance of the Easter holiday. The casino, hotel and spa will remain open. Live racing resumes Friday, April 22.

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Stakes Quotes:

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen, Jackie’s Warrior: “Nice cool day. I’m glad it isn’t raining right now. I definitely got concerned when we got that second shower. It squeezes down nice and stuff. I was thinking to Mitole’s day (2019) when he won the Count Fleet. What a monsoon that was and he came out of it great. Hoping and expecting the same with this horse. Joel (Rosario) let’s him do what he wants to do, but he’s responded to Joel. I think that he needed the race and that is apparent. But what a great starting point for a champion.”

NOTE: Jackie’s Warrior is scheduled to ship Monday morning to Churchill Downs and target the $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) May 7, according to Steve Asmussen.

Winning jockey Joel Rosario, Jackie’s Warrior: A very fast horse like Jackie, he just came out of there and got away from everybody. He enjoyed what he was doing out there and was able to keep going. He has run on the slop before and won. He can run on anything. He’s a very nice horse.”

Jockey Martin Garcia, second on Letsgetlucky: “I mean, we got beat by a really good horse. My horse showed today that he is a good horse. He’s been showing up every time, but today was tough competition. He broke well, but he doesn’t have the speed of the others, so I just let him sit and make one run and that’s exactly what happened. He was running at the end. I just couldn’t catch the other one (Jackie’s Warrior).”