Grant Jack, with leading rider Cliff Berry aboard, produced a 14-1 upset in the $250,000 Springboard Mile Stakes on closing night of the 2010 season at Remington Park (VIDEO).
Berry, who a night earlier won with all seven of his mounts to set a record at the Oklahoma City track, guided Grant Jack to a one-length win over 54-1 shot Brickyard Fast in the juvenile test. They combined for a $872.40 exacta. A $2 trifecta with 10-1 Aces N Kings was worth $10,948.80 and the $1 superfecta, rounded out with 16-1 Trubs, returned $52,146.60.
Owned by the Dallas partnership of Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch and trained by Bret Calhoun, Grant Jack stalked the pace set by Brickyard Fast, who was pressured by Aces N Kings throughout the race. Grant Jack made a determined move late in the stretch, going outside of the battling duo to get up in a time of 1:37.98 over a fast track.
Brickyard Fast, ridden by Bryan McNeil, set quarterly fractions of :23.32, :47.10 and 1:11.84 and held off Aces N Kings and Eguard Tejera by a head for second.
Grant Jack was second in last month's Springboard prep, the Clever Trevor Stakes, finishing 5-1/2 lengths behind Caleb's Posse . Sent off as the 9-10 wagering favorite, Caleb's Posse finished seventh in the Springboard.
Grant Jack showed marked improvement in his first try at a mile on the main track.
"The last race he left the starting gate flat-footed,” noted Berry, who rode both of Grant Jack’s stakes races at Remington Park. “I had a handful of horse along the backside tonight. He really dug in down the stretch when he needed it.”
Grant Jack paid $30.80, $17.40 and $10.40 for his first stakes score. Brickyard Fast returned $62.40. Aces N Kings paid $6.80 to show. Trubs was another two lengths back in fourth.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Harlan's Holiday from the St. Jovite mare Dream Away, Grant Jack won his second career race from six attempts. The $150,000 winner’s share of the Springboard boosts his overall earnings to $199,425.
Berry won his 13th title as Remington's leading jockey and his first local title since 2007. Berry’s 76 wins were 18 ahead of runner-up Ramsey Zimmerman. Aaron Gryder was third in the standings with 51 wins.
Steve Asmussen was the leading trainer at Remington for the fourth consecutive season, winning 47 races. He has been leading trainer at Remington six times. Calhoun finished with 40 wins.
There was a three-way tie for leading owner with 11 wins between the Sanders/Hirsch partnership,. Poindexter Thoroughbreds and Danny Caldwell.
Final statistical numbers for the 2010 Thoroughbred Season will be released Dec. 13, the track said in a release.