Two changes propel Here Comes Jackie to sharp maiden score

Here Comes Jackie spent her first five starts running on the grass with a variety of jockeys aboard, and the best she accomplished was one second and one third. Yesterday at Gulfstream Park, two significant changes made the 3-year-old filly look like a different horse.

Michael Dini, owner and trainer of the daughter of Handsome Mike, made one change by putting Javier Castellano in the irons. The second change can be credited to Mother Nature, when rain caused a switch from the turf to the main track. The result was undeniable.

Castellano shot Here Comes Jackie to the lead in the $43,000 maiden special, then eased her back into third place, about four lengths behind the pacesetters. He remained there down the backstretch, moved her up coming to the turn, and swung her three wide approaching the stretch. From there, the filly bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon sprinted away from the field, and she was nearly three lengths in front at the end of seven furlongs. Here Comes Jackie is Handsome Mike’s second winner of 2019, collected a check of $25,800, and raised her earnings to $53,200.