Jaxon Traveler Stays Unbeaten with Impressive Performance Friday
Jaxon Traveler Stays Unbeaten with Impressive Performance Friday
35th Jim McKay Maryland Million Program Gets Under Way at 11:25 A.M.
LAUREL, MD – Proving his eye-opening debut triumph last month was no fluke, West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner’s promising 2-year-old Jaxon Traveler followed up with an even more impressive performance Friday on Maryland Million eve at Laurel Park.
Coasting through sharp fractions under jockey Johan Rosado, Jaxon Traveler ($2.80) rolled to a four-length triumph in the six-furlong, entry-level optional claiming allowance for juveniles. The winning time of 1:08.75 over a fast main track was nearly two seconds faster than his Sept. 25 unveiling at Pimlico Race Course.
Dawn Lenert was among the West Point partners who share ownership of Jaxon Traveler that were on hand for the race. Jaxon Traveler is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.
“We are so excited. We weren’t sure if he was just going to go to the front and what would happen in terms of a speed duel, but I think he proved today he can set some sizzling fractions and keep on going. It was very encouraging,” she said. “I asked [Rosado], ‘Do you still love him?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I still love him.’”
Breaking sharply from Post 3 in a field that scratched down to five, Jaxson Traveler was in command from the start through fractions of 22.19 seconds for a quarter-mile and 44.65 for the half. Rosado peeked behind him looking for competition midway around the turn but there was none to be found as Jaxon Traveler went five furlongs in 56.07 and powered to the wire under a hand ride.
“[Rosado] said he was great. He was just out there pricking his ears and waiting for horses to come to him, and when they did he sprinted away again,” Lenert said. “He was very, very complimentary about the horse. Thanks to the Asmussen team for having him ready to roll.”
Jaxon Traveler beat the gate in his debut and led every step in a 10-length maiden special weight triumph, running six furlongs in 1:10.41. The runner-up from that race, Lugamo, came back to win a seven-furlong maiden special weight by six lengths in 1:25.18 Oct. 16 at Laurel.
A son of multiple graded-stakes winning sprinter Munnings bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Pineau, Jaxson Traveler was purchased for $140,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ April sale of 2-year-olds in training after fetching $80,000 as a yearling last September at Keeneland.
“A shout out to Marvin Delfiner, who is also a partner on this horse,” Lenert said. “We’re hopeful. We bought him … with some lofty goals in mind. So far, he’s done everything right and we’re very excited.”
Jaxon Traveler was entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery for 2-year-olds but was second of three horses on the also-eligible list and would have needed seven scratches to get into the main body of the race, which drew a full field of 13.
“We had folks coming in from Missouri today who flew in to see him,” Lenert said. “I think we were really hoping he’d get in tomorrow but we understand with a big, full field, which is great for Maryland. Hopefully, we’ll be able to go onward and upward from here.”
35th Jim McKay Maryland Million Gets Under Way at 11:25 A.M.
Saturday’s 35th Jim McKay Maryland Million program of eight stakes and four starter stakes will kick off with a special 11:25 a.m. first-race post at Laurel Park.
‘Maryland’s Day at the Races,’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state, is highlighted by the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up in Race 11. The Classic field includes Harpers First Ride, recent winner of the historic Pimlico Special (G3) and six-for-seven lifetime at Laurel, and fellow stakes winners Cordmaker, Monday Morning Qb and Top Line Growth. Top Line Growth has won all four of his Laurel starts.
Juveniles will be in the spotlight in the $100,000 Lassie for fillies (Race 4) and $100,000 Nursery (Race 7), while the $100,000 Ladies (Race 3) for fillies and mares 3 and older, $100,000 Turf and $75,000 Turf Sprint Handicap (Race 6) for 3-year-olds and up are among five races scheduled for Laurel’s world-class grass course.
Impressive 2019 Lassie winner Hello Beautiful is the even-money program favorite while facing older horses in the $100,000 Distaff (Race 8) for fillies and mares 3 and up, while fellow multiple stakes winner Lewisfield will look to repeat his 2018 victory in the $100,000 Sprint (Race 10).
Up to 250 spectators are allowed to attend live racing, while wearing face coverings and observing proper social distancing at all times. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and all fans are required directed to the grandstand entrance where temperatures will be taken thermally.
Notes: Jockeys Jorge Ruiz and JD Acosta each had riding doubles Friday. Ruiz was first with Holy Saint ($6.20) in Race 1 and Charge to Victory ($7.60) in Race 8, while Acosta won aboard Degas ($11.20) in Race 5 and Tizanillusion ($4.20) in Race 9 … There will be carryovers of $2,069.61 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 7-12) and $1,358.14 in the $1 Super Hi-5 (Race 1) for Maryland Million Day. Multiple tickets with all six winners Friday each returned $224.58.
