Jabberwocky Jumps the Shark in Chicago Million

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 11 years 1 week ago

Jabberwocky showed up at Metropolitan Park hoping to keep his amazing streak alive.

The spirited bay horse with the star and the classy earmuffs brought with him all his lucky charms and a record of eight consecutive victories on two continents.

Not that it mattered right now, as he and his connections had to focus on the race at hand which was the $1 million Grade I Chicago Million which would cover the 1 ¼ miles distance on the turf. All the stepping stones towards his path towards greatness must still be navigated one at a time.

In the end, it didn’t take him long to chase the leader then pass him in the stretch to win this prestigious race by just a nose in a tight photo over Sea World Shock. He completed the race in a very respectable 1:59.39.

The winner who sashayed into the winner’s circle afterward with great aplomb was bred and is owned by Nick Gilmore.

He’s by South American Horse of the Year Confirm Thy Crown, a member of that stud’s final crop. This stallion hadn’t been the greatest in the shed but he sired two millionaires one of who is Jabberwocky. Broodmare Humorous Lady now deceased was the product of two Hall of Famers and boasts some pretty interesting history. She’s by the great champion and sire Feature Attraction and is out of Laughterintherain who influenced the picture on all weather and turf surfaces. Multi-surface sire Coach Cal and all weather stake winner Laughterinthesky were both progeny of hers.

Jabberwocky impressed even as a youngster even though his workout times on the turf weren’t very quick. He covered the ground so cleanly with each stride, he attracted a lot of attention in the mornings. A crowd turned out to see his first race at Fledgling Park in Great Britain even though he placed second there nearly two lengths behind the winner.

He won next time out before finishing second in the Prix de Mont Blanc. Next time out he stretched out a bit in the Prix Effortless Focus and one in good order by a quarter length. That kicked off his first winning streak which stretched four races from France to India and back again. After winning the Prix Stealth Ninja he headed to Germany but saw his steak broken by a second place finish behind Quentin. His second place finish in the Magic Carpet Stakes would be his last loss going into the Chicago Million.

Jockey Carlos Crowe regaled the media with stories about what it felt like to be riding Jabberwocky during that time when he dominated turf routing in North America and Asia. Among the stakes he captured were the Japan Trophy and the Caesar Augustus Handicap where he defeated New Balance and he was last year’s Asian horse of the year.

His most recent win took place in the Tribeca Stakes and people wondered if that still left him sharp for the upcoming million dollar race. A short field of four other horses showed up to challenge him.

Last year’s winner and European Champion Two Year Old Male Sea World Shark breezed in after finshing third in the Tribeca Stakes. The Mike Eaton homebred had been struggling a bit this season and hadn’t scored any wins since last year’s rendition of this race. In between though he scored some nice runner up finishes including second in last year’s Steward’s Cup Turf behind If You Think. He’s by North American Champion Older Male Turf Horse Fish and is out of the stakes winning Worlds of Beauty who’s by Deep Impact.

Emma Lochran brought in her homebred Jack Frost, a handsome grey colt by super sire Tattered and out of the very nice broodmare Will It Snow a daughter of Will to Succeed. This mare also produced the millionaire and Asian Horse of the Year Snow Kissed and Snow Blanket who won first time out. So far Jack Frost has won nine out of 13 starts including the Desert Duty Free and the Prix Versailles most recently. He looked so ready to fire up here even as he frolicked with his pet goat before the race.

Rock Band dominated the attention of onlookers as he stepped out of the trailer. The African champion older male was purchased by Brandon McNulty for $4.460 million and had accumulated just over $1.5 million coming into this race. He was greatly helped by a four race winning streak including impressive victories in the South African Cup and the Miami Turf Handicap thousands of miles apart.
Having scored many of his stakes wins on the African continent he’s done just fine in the United States and hoped to add to his record in this race.

He’s also by the almighty Fish and is out of the brilliant Rockappella who know boasts three millionaire offspring with Rock Me Amadeus and Rock Opera being the other two.

Podcaster Scott Eiland mentioned something about entering his horses Civilized in to help the betting pool during a public appearance. This impressive filly was South American champion three year old filly and had won 10 out of her 19 career starts including the Prix Grand Francais earlier this year. More recently, she finished second in the Prix L’ Egalite against other fillies and mares. She’s by the top but recently pensioned sire Trafalgar and is out of a daughter of Black Condor named Sieve.

The horses marched to the starting gate not upset in the least by the rock concert playing in the infield. Sea World Shark tossed his head a bit and pranced but his jockey, Jason Jacobson calmed him down by the time they reached the starting gate.

When the gates opened, that horse put his restless energy to quick use taking the lead by 2 ¾ lengths on the first jump over Jabberwocky who settled into second. Civilized nosed out Rock Band and Jack Frost took the last position with an icy calmness.

Into the backstretch, Sea World Shark glided to a six length lead daring the other to follow in his wake. Jabberwocky under a tight hold by Crowe remained in second by a length over Jack Frost who’d thawed enough to slip into third place. As they raced into the far turn, Jabberwocky began quickening his strides and cut the advantage held by Sea World Shark in half as Jack Frost began to approach him before they hit the lane.

In front of the roaring grandstand Jabberwocky began to run in earnest, clear and concise in his action as he challenged Sea World Shark who proved tenacious. In the end, it took careful examination of the finish line photo to separate the two granting Jabberwocky with the win over Sea World Shark who held off Jack Frost by 3 ¾ lengths for second.

All looked grand warming down and more than likely all will return in races as this season moves towards its closing act. Jabberwocky moved onto Willow Downs in New York while Sea World Shark remained at the racetrack.

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