Published Friday, August 23rd, 2019   ( 4 years ago )

Improbable Faces King Jack in Shared Belief Stakes

 

King Jack © Benoit Photo

Improbable, a major player on the Triple Crown trail this spring, faces unbeaten King Jack Sunday in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes for three-year-olds at one mile on the main track.

Improbable, trained by Bob Baffert, will be making his first start since finishing sixth behind War of Will in the Preakness last May. Previously, he was placed fourth in the Kentucky after being runner-up in both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

King Jack, conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer, will be stepping into stakes company after two impressive victories, both in virtual wire-to-wire fashion. The son of Jimmy Creed won his debut at Santa Anita June 1 and then was a winner going seven furlongs at Del Mar on opening day, July 17.

Drayden Van Dyke has the call on Improbable, the chestnut son of City Zip, while Mike Smith returns aboard King Jack.

Seeking to upset Improbable and King Jack will be Street Class, a maiden winner at Del Mar this summer; Seven Scents, twice stakes-placed; Stubbins, sixth in the La Jolla Handicap on turf, and Lieutenant Dan, winner of the Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred sophomores July 27.

Jockey assignments are Ruben Fuentes on Street Class, Jorge Velez on Seven Scents, Rafael Bejarano aboard Stubbins and Abel Cedillo astride Lieutenant Dan.

Post for the first of nine races Sunday is 2 p.m.