How to bet the Allen H. Jerkens Memorial Handicap

A total of eight turf stayers will travel a demanding two miles on the Gulfstream Park lawn in Sunday’s $100,000 Allen H. Jerkens Memorial H. The unique grassy marathon is run at a distance that is rarely contested in the U. S. which makes handicapping the race an interesting challenge. 

Jerkens Wagers

• $2 exacta box 1,4,5,7 ($24)
• $1 trifecta box 1,4,5,7 ($24)
• $.50-cent superfecta box 1,4,5,7 ($12)

#4 Swore, one of two in the field for conditioner Graham Motion, broke his maiden by four lengths while running 1 1/2 miles at Kentucky Downs in September, and the son of Broken Vow followed that performance up with a solid fourth-place run in an allowance endeavor at Aqueduct last time out. This Stone Farm homebred has run well at extended trips this campaign, and getting an extra half-mile to work with should be right in his wheelhouse. The dark bay is giving up a lot of class to multiple runners in the field, but he’s worth a shot under Gaffalione. 

Team Valor homebred #5 McLovin was a stakes winner in an event at the distance most recently and looms as a logical chance for trainer Arnaud Delacour. The Animal Kingdom five-year-old has performed relatively well in four stakes outings in succession leading up to Sunday, and the late runner wouldn’t be a surprise with Joel Rosario taking the reins. 

#1 Value Engineering, one of a trio of Mike Maker entrants in the cast, has a lot going for him as a top-three must-use in the marathon. This Lemon Drop Kid gelding loves the venue, is well drawn on the rail, and the seven-year-old is a Grade 2 winner locally at 1 3/8 miles, as well. The dark bay Kentucky-bred captured this contest last campaign when it was run over 1 5/8 miles on the All-Weather surface, and he can’t be omitted with Jose Ortiz taking the reins. 

Luis Saez will guide #7 F Five who is the controlling pace in the race. Trained by Brian Lynch, the talented son of Not This Time is two-for-four on the green with a nose second among his defeats, and the gelding could get very brave if left alone for too long on the front end.