Jackie's Warrior

Jackie's Warrior began his career on 19 June at Santa Anita Park in a Maiden event for two-year-olds over a distance of five furlongs facing six other non-winners of which only one had race before. The more experience Petit Verdot bounced out in front and from the inside barrier 2 position Jackie's Warrior tracked the leader then switch to the outside on the turn and in the straight a furlong from home cleared away to win by 2+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 57.49 seconds.[6]

Impressed with his victory, trainer Steve Asmussen pointed Jackie's Warrior towards the two-year-old stakes races at Saratoga. In his next start on 7 August, Jackie's Warrior led throughout winning the Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes by three lengths. Jockey Joel Rosario commented after winning the race, "When they came to him, he wanted to go, and I felt even more confident at that point. I knew he had something left."[4] After his second race J. Kirk Robison added his wife as part owner of Jackie's Warrior.[7]

Four weeks later Jackie's Warrior faced seven rivals in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes. Again Jackie's Warrior went to the lead and opened up a five-length lead over even-money favorite Reinvestment Risk in the straight before finishing over 2 lengths in front at the wire.[7] Jackie's Warrior as the 9/5 second choice finished in a time of 1:21.29 which was a new stakes record for the event.[8]

Jackie's Warrior's next start was on 10 October in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park where he faced five other entrants. Starting at the 17/20 odds-on favorite Jackie's Warrior bounced in front leading Reinvestment Risk throughout and extending his lead in the straight to win his fourth straight victory by 5+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:35.42. Regular jockey Rosario complemented "I was very confident that he could get the mile. He just enjoyed what he was doing."[9] Jackie's Warrior earned 10 points in qualification in the Road to the Kentucky Derby and emerged as the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.[10]

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile, held at Keeneland attracted a full field of 14 and Jackie's Warrior started as the 9/10 odds-on favorite. From barrier 2, jockey Joel Rosario was not able to get to the lead from the start but had to settle and trail longshot Dreamer's Disease. Jackie's Warrior forged a path to the outside of the Dreamer's Disease leaving the backstretch and was able to hit the front and lead by half-length. However, second favorite from midfield Essential Quality also moved four-wide advance towards the lead, outside of Jackie's Warrior passing the other leaders and winning. Jackie's Warrior gallantly finished fourth beaten 3+1⁄4 lengths.[11]

Jackie's Warrior finished a distant second to Essential Quality in the Eclipse Award for US Champion Two-Year-Olds.[12]

After a break of over three months Jackie's Warrior resumed his career still with the plans to qualify for the Kentucky Derby as an entrant in the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park over 1+1⁄16 miles.[13] Starting brightly and leading early, Jackie's Warrior tired in the straight, finishing a distant third to Essential Quality and Spielberg. Soon after, connections informed that Jackie's Warrior would be off the Kentucky Derby trail.[14]

On Kentucky Derby Day, Jackie's Warrior started as the 23/10 favorite in the undercard event, the Grade II Pat Day Mile Stakes for three-year-olds over the mile distance. After leading, Jackie's Warrior held on strongly to hold of Dream Shake to win by a neck.[15] Jockey Rosario commented after the race, "He likes when a horse comes up to him, and he really digs in. I was not worried about the fast early pace because he fights very hard down the stretch."[16]

Jackie's Warrior's third start of the year was at Belmont Park in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes over seven furlongs where he face five other three-year-olds. Again starting well and leading with fast fractions of 22.09, 44.19 Jackie's Warrior seemed to have the race in hand but was beaten by Drain The Clock by a neck.[17] According to his jockey he stumbled out of the starting gate which may have cost him the race.[18]

After a two-month break Jackie's Warrior returned to Saratoga where he had success the previous season. Starting as the 1/2 odds-on favorite in the Grade II Amsterdam Stakes Jackie's Warrior made amends defeating Drain the Clock by 7+1⁄4 lengths on a sloppy track.[19]

Four weeks later in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Jackie's Warrior found a formidable foe in Life Is Good. Their clash was a memorable battle down the straight as Jackie's Warrior came from off the lead to win by a neck in a fast time of 1:21.39. Jackie's Warrior was slightly more fitter as Life Is Good was having his first start after 171 day layoff that included an operation.[20]

On 25 September, Jackie's Warrior had his next start in the Grade II Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing in Bensalem. Jackie's Warrior started as the overwhelming 1/20 odds-on favorite and simply toyed with his opposition winning by nearly seven length in a time of 1:08.64 for the six furlong distance.[21]

Jackie's Warrior last start of the year would be in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on 6 November. Installed as the hot 1/2 odds-on favorite Jackie's Warrior Was quick out of the gate and clocked fractions of 21.91, 44.11 while being pressed by Special Reserve and Matera Sky. In the straight Jackie's Warrior tired to finish sixth in the field of nine.[22]

Jackie's Warrior performance in 2021 was impressive enough that the NTRA awarded him an Eclipse Award as American Champion Sprint Horse for 2021.[23]