Jerkens pulls another upset in the Westchester
May 1, 2010NEW YORK (AP) -Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens pulled off another upset, this time with Le Grand Cru in the $100,000 Westchester Stakes on the opening day at Belmont Park.
At 27-1 odds, Le Grand Cru rallied to beat Convocation by 2 1/4 lengths to give the 81-year-old Jerkens his sixth win in the Westchester. He also won with Step Nicely (1975), Find (1982), Singh Tu (1983), Virginia Rapids (1994) and Wagon Limit (1998).
The winner of the Kelso Handicap at Belmont last October, Le Grand Cru lost all four races at Gulfstream Park over the winter, but returned to New York for his fifth win in 18 starts.
Cornelio Velasquez was aboard as the 5-year-old ran the one mile in 1:34.89, paying $56.50, $18.40 and $10.40. Convocation, trained by Jerken's son Jimmy, returned $4.50 and $3.70. Ironman Jon paid $4.20 to show.