3 minute read

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens remains amazed by the rare 1-2 finish of his three-year-olds V.E. Day and Wicked Strong in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

In two editions of the Travers, Jerkens has emerged with two victories and one second-place finish with three horses.

The 55-year-old trainer won the 2010 Travers Stakes with Alfleet Express and surpassed that when 19-1 shot V. E. Day nosed out his more celebrated stablemate Wicked Strong in the the G1 evgent revered as the Mid Summer Derby.

"I must have watched the replay a thousand times," said Jerkens.

“It seemed like the last two strides, V. E. Day really lengthened his stride and reached out to win."

“I’m happy they both pulled up good. It sure was something. “

Like Afleet Express, V. E. Day's victory came by a nose with jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

Unlike 2010, however, Jerkens' father, Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens, was not in attendance. The elder Jerkens watched the race from his home near in Florida where he is still training.

Jerkens said he wasn't conflicted by having two horses in the same race, although he expressed pangs that one of them had to lose.

"You don't favour one horse over the other. It's like your kids, you don't favor one over the other," he said.

"We're still a small outfit, so we spent a lot of time with each of the horses.”

Jerkens said he had no plans for either V. E. Day or Wicked Strong although the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on September 27 is an option for both.

V. E. Day has now won four straight races from his first six starts.

"He's been very nice to ride and gallop, he's very well-behaved," said Shirley Jerkens, who exercises some horses for her husband.

"He's strong in a good way."