Jackie’s Warrior dominates rain-soaked Amsterdam S. (G2)

Jackie’s Warrior moved to the head of the sprint division with a superlative effort in the $200,000 Amsterdam S. (G2) Sunday at Saratoga.

The Amsterdam finally ran after a 30-minute delay caused by lightning and extremely heavy rain. As expected, Jackie’s Warrior and Drain the Clock locked up in an early pace duel, zipping through a half-mile in :21.46. Soon after, Jackie’s Warrior began to pull away under a hand ride to get the half-mile in an eye-popping :43.85. Despite the fractions, the 3-year-old powered away from the field and was eased up in the final sixteenth to win by 7 ¼-lengths in 1:15.46 for the 6 ½-furlongs.

“He won on an off track today, which is the first time, and to get that variable out of the way knowing that weather doesn’t care how important we think something is, that he’ll be able to handle that going forward,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said after the race. “With his performance today on top of what he did in the Pat Day Mile, he’ll have a lot to say in the one-turn division the rest of the year.”

Asmussen was referencing the colt’s gallant win on Derby Day in Louisville. Overall, Jackie’s Warrior is 6-1-1 in nine starts. With Sunday’s payday he increased his earnings to $1,058,964, making the five-time graded stakes winner racing’s newest millionaire. He is owned by Kirk and Judy Robinson.

Jackie’s Warrior is slated to go to stud at Spendthrift following the conclusion of his racing career. Spendthrift acquired his breeding rights last autumn.