Lightly regarded Jersey Town, sent off at 8-1, took the lead from Shackleford entering the homestretch and drew off strongly to win the $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) this afternoon at Belmont Park by about five lengths.
Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Jersey Town received a perfect trip in the Kelso, sitting a couple of lengths behind Shackleford as that colt set quick fractions of :22.54 and :45.02 seconds over a track labeled "good." Trickmeister was on the outside racing in second, followed by Tapizar and Jersey Town. Golddigger's Boy and To Honor and Serve were the early trailers.
Rounding the turn, Shackleford continued to lead the way, but Jersey Town was moving strongly and split horses turning for home to seize command of the lead. Shackleford gamely tried to stay with him for about a sixteenth of a mile, but Jersey Town simply had more left in the tank, gradually drawing away throughout the homestretch to win convincingly in the good time of 1:35.24 seconds.
Shackleford held on to finish second over Trickmeister, while To Honor and Serve never fired and finished fourth.
The winner, a six-year-old son of Speightstown, is trained by Barclay Tagg and owned by Charles Fipke.
-Keelerman
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