2023 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Preview

The Grade 1, $500,000 Allen Jerkens Memorial, formerly named for his star runner, King’s Bishop, is the summer highlight for three-year-old one-turn horses. Dating back to 1984, the winners of this seven-furlong sprint have included stars like Housebuster, More Than Ready, Lost in the Fog, Runhappy, and Jackie’s Warrior. It often serves as a showcase of top one-turn horses who will soon face older foes in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint or even before.

The 2023 edition of the Allen Jerkens Memorial features a quality field of six runners. Woody Stephens (G1) winner Arabian Lion tries to keep the momentum going. Amsterdam (G2) winner New York Thunder puts his undefeated record on the line. Indiana Derby (G3) winner Verifying and Dwyer (G3) winner Fort Bragg turn back. And, Drew’s Gold and One In Vermillion try to make the grade for the first time.

Allen Jerkens Memorial Information

• Race Date: Saturday, August 26
• Track: Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York
• Post Time: 4:19 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
• Distance: seven furlongs on the dirt
• Age/Sex: three-year-olds
• Where to Watch: TVG.com and Fox
• Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing

2023 Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Draw and Odds

This is the field for the 2023 Allen Jerkens Memorial, including trainers, jockeys, and post positions. Odds will be updated once Saratoga releases the morning line.

Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Prep Race Results

All six runners in the Allen Jerkens Memorial come out of different races.

Four are last-out graded-stakes winners. Arabian Lion leads the pack with a win last out in the Woody Stephens (G1), a top-level sprint at Belmont Park that often produces live contenders for this, another Grade 1 at seven furlongs on dirt. New York Thunder won the Amsterdam (G2), the local prep, about a month ago. Fort Bragg got up by a nose in the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont, while Verifying most recently won by the same slim margin in the Indiana Derby (G3).

One in Vermillion cuts back in distance after a third-place finish in the West Virginia Derby (G3), while Drew’s Gold tries to rebound after a seventh-place finish in the Mahony about two weeks ago, his first try on the lawn.

Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Contenders

These are the six entrants in the 2023 Allen Jerkens Memorial, organized by post position:

1. Drew’s Gold: He overcame a slow break to win a baby race at Churchill on debut last May, and then won three more races in a row to start his sophomore year. He has lost his last three starts, though his two graded tries on turf were not bad. He was second in the Woody Stephens, no match for Arabian Lion after another poor start, and weakened to third behind New York Thunder in the Amsterdam. A try on turf went poorly, but now he returns to his best surface. He has some longshot potential, but the big concern is the break: will he get off well enough to work a stalking trip from the fence, given his history of poor starts? Demand a price on that proposition.
2. One in Vermillion: He is a stakes winner at seven furlongs already, with a gate-to-wire score in the Laz Barrera last May. Even though he is also a listed-level winner at two turns, he has some upside in trying graded company at a sprint trip for the first time. The serious problem for him is the pace. Luis Saez should be a great fit given his aggression, but he is drawn inside of New York Thunder. Something would have to go awry early for New York Thunder not to get the lead over One in Vermillion, which is bad news given this colt’s preferred running style.
3. Verifying: He has the class, but distance is the question. That classiest form has all come at a mile or more. He has not gone less than one mile since his six-furlong debut win at Saratoga, but a credible second in the Champagne (G1) suggests he could have some extended one-turn ability, though even that was a mile in the slop the better part of a year ago. Going this short, he will have to prove that he can settle back and run at horses like New York Thunder from further off the pace than he is used to.
4. Fort Bragg: The Kentucky Derby trail proved beyond his distance abilities, but a cutback to one turn put the shine right on him. He missed by only a neck in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Derby day, then got up by a tenacious nose after a poor start to win the Dwyer (G3). Both of those races were one-turn miles. He proved, especially in the Dwyer, that he is tactical enough to sit a couple of lengths off, make a run, and put up a fight, which is just the right running style to make him a threat in this race.
5. New York Thunder: After wins on Tapeta and turf, this son of Nyquist proved he could be just as good on the dirt when he took the Amsterdam gate-to-wire, winning by 7 ½ comfortable lengths. His field gets even tougher this time around, but none of his opponents are fast enough to go with him early. Both his breeding and his running suggest he will have no trouble getting the extra half furlong in the Jerkens, and his under-the-radar trainer Jorge Delgado means he should still be a bettable price against names like Bob Baffert and Brad Cox.
6. Arabian Lion: The second of the Baffert brigade, he has good tactical speed, though note that all the races where he made the lead were at a mile and a sixteenth. This means he will be stalking the pace with New York Thunder in the field. He can win from that kind of trip, and did exactly that in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens. He will be a deserving favorite after his last, though he will have to chase down higher-quality speed this time as well.

Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes FAQ

Q: When is the Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes?

A: The Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes happens Saturday, August 26, at 4:19 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Q: Where is the Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes?

A: The Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes happens at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is carded as the ninth on Saturday’s deep and classy 13-race Travers-day card.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes?

A: D. Wayne Lukas leads all trainers with five wins in this race between 1985 and 1996. Though he is still active, he does not have a runner in the Jerkens this year. Among trainers with entrants, Bob Baffert is the only one who has won the race before. He won with Forestry (1999) and Drefong (2016) and enters both Arabian Lion and Fort Bragg in 2023.

Q: Who is the favorite for the Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes?

A: Coming out of a victory in the Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes day, Arabian Lion is the likely favorite in the Allen Jerkens Memorial. Morning-line makers agree, setting him the 2-1 favorite. However, make sure to respect action on 5-2 morning-line second choice New York Thunder in particular, as he is an up-and-comer with an undefeated record, a local win, and an under-the-radar trainer. Fort Bragg is the other 5-2 cofavorite on the morning line, and will likely take money because of his association with Bob Baffert.