Bruce Jackson Continued

Last posted I assigned Bruce Jackson, training at Fair Hills and racing at venues such as Philadelphia Park, Laurel and Delaware, a 50% survival rate for his raceable stock for 2008. As you look closer at the Bruce Jackson Racing website you see predominantly two year olds and maidens. Most of the few older horses quickly fall off the map for whatever reasons, and but a small number of horses get in any significant racing. Possibly a transition year for Jackson, stable turnover, or whatever.

I skimmed the training of several Jackson horses unable to see the tailoring bragged of on the website. Looks pretty cookbook consistent to me, horse to horse, but, I just skimmed. Additionally, who knows what Jackson does on slow days. They're at Fairhill and might do unrecorded speed work. But, you have to observe that their results are inconsistent with slow day speed work, and that we're probably seeing in terms of performance exactly what the website shows, which is "not much".

I looked closely at 3 Jackson racers and decided to leave it at that. If you look at the three you'll have a pretty good idea of the training in this stable.
'
Starvinsky:
A stakes performer. Can we assume S get's a lot of personal attention fromthe trainer? As the year progresses this horse goes downhill.
3/15 3f :36.4
3/22 4f :50 7 days since last
4/1 4f :48 10 days
4/8 5f 1:00 7 days
4/19 4f :49.4 11 days
Consistently inconsistent in their workouts while showing a nice progression up the time/distance ladder. Jackson's horses seem to do their breezes in near :12s, which I'd think would be a plus for performance and injury prevention.
4/26 RACE Stake 1 mile finishes 7th. Little in the prior training to prepare for this race.
5/10 5f 1:00 they wait 16 days and launch right into a fast 5f. Nonsense except again unknown what's they've done on slow days.
5/26 RACE Stake 1 mile 3rd. One workout in a month and he improves. Good for the horse!
and, its on turf.
6/7 5f 1:01 11 days this time.
6/14 4f :49.3 7 days
6/21 RACE Stake 1 1/16 mile 4th on turf. Holding his own so far with what I'd call highly questionable race specific training. But, open mind, as we proceed...
7/3 RACE Allowance 1 1/16 turf, finishes 6th. 12 days after the last race. He survives.
8/2 3f :35.4 they wait 30 days then 8 days to
8/10 RACE 5f Allowance on turf. Sprinter now, and he manages a 2nd.
8/26 3f :36 16 days
9/1 RACE Stake, 5f turf. Last breeze was 5 days out. finishes 4th.
9/20 3f :35 19 days.
10/4 RACE Stake 5.5f turf finishes 7th. ONE breeze in 33 days. But, S still with us.
10/24 RACE 7f Stake turf finishes 8th. 20 days since last, and now 4 fast works in 54 days.
11/1 RACE 5.5f claiming, turf, finishes 9th. The seven days since last race does nothing for this unfit animal.
The stable races to December 20, but this one is through.

Starvinsky Breeze/Races every 11.5 days for the year(2.66 breeze/race per month). You'd guess they're doing some speed work on the off days, except that the performance is right up to what we see on paper. S makes it through the year, but perhaps we start to see why he has very little such company in this stable.

Two more Jacksons next post followed by a summary of what has been learned from the trainer websites, and thereafter on to some physiology in term of breeze/race frequency.

Training:
Thurs. 1/8 Rest
Fri. 1/9 with cold north wind blowing in after a 60 degree day we decide on more speed work two days after last and then rest in the cold on Saturday. Art does another strong (:19s spurting to :17s) 1.25 gallop. Rod does 1.25 but screws around the whole way. This horse is difficult under tack so far--a head thrower and sky gazer, but inexperienced yet. Both horses then did riderless speed work, probably 1.25 miles continuous in full speed spurts. Nice workout for the 4 yr. old while the 3 yr. old also screws up his speed work. Decent looking forecast for deep winter. If we can avoid precip, we're in business.