Jackhammer to open season in Japan

4yo Jackhammer will become just the third horse in Otsego Farms history to enter the Japan Cup.  

He'll have 5 weeks of rest on race day and will be on his preferred surface, which makes him a solid contender, regardless of the competition.  Three year olds have dominated this race since it was added to the Photo Finish schedule in 2011, winning six times in eight tries, but the connections at Otsego think that Jackhammer has the strength to overcome the additional weight he will carry.

Battlestar ran in the Japan Cup in 2018, and finished a disappointing 7th.  He disliked the going in Japan, but rebounded nicely in his next start, winning the lucrative Dubai World Cup.

A View to a Kill finished 2nd in 2011, well behind the legendary Heat Seeker.  Interestingly, these 3yo's finished 1-2 in this race despite of a skimpy 2-pound weight advantage over the rest of the field.  For the next 2 years, no 3yo's competed in this race.  Then in 2014, Pluto became the next 3yo to win, and did so with a 26-pound weight advantage over 2nd place finisher Serengeti and a 28-pound advantage over the favorite, Capro Espiatorio, who finished 4th.  

Three year olds have dominated this race and enjoyed huge handicap advantages ever since then, prompting Otsego Farms owner Jim Webber to state, "Yes, I am a little concerned about the weight disparity.  Jackhammer will have to lug an extra 25 lbs or so and that may tell in the final couple furlongs."