NO trainer has patience like Jimmy Jerkens. No owner has confidence in a trainer like Centennial Farm. And no horse needed patience and confidence like Preservationist.

Jerkens’ patience, Centennial’s confidence and Preservationist’s ability paid off with a $375,000 first-place cheque in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park last Saturday.

Making his eighth career start and first stakes attempt, the son of Arch and jockey Junior Alvarado gunned inside favourite Catholic Boy turning for home and cruised home to score by four and a half lengths.

Preservationist made his career debut in June, 2016, finishing second at Belmont Park. He didn’t return to the races until December 2017, won two of three starts before missing another 11 months. This year, he had won two of three starts, climbing the allowance ladder before the Suburban.

“That was nice. That was nice,” Jerkens said. “He was so nice and relaxed coming off of a big race, so I thought he’d be fit enough. He’s got a lot of talent but he’s got stamina too. He has a lot of quality all through his female family. Nice to see it all come together to pick up a graded stakes win here today.”

Code Of Honor ‘eating the dirt’ on his return

KENTUCKY Derby runner-up Code Of Honor returned for his first race since the controversial classic to trounce five rivals in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont Park.

Owned by Will Farish, trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by John Velazquez, the son of Noble Mission rallied from last in the one-mile stakes before drawing off to win by three and a quarter lengths.

“It’s exactly what we wanted. He was eating the dirt,” McGaughey said from his Saratoga base. “The Travers is the goal.”

The $1.25 million Travers on August 24th highlights a Saratoga stakes smorgasbord that includes 76 stakes races worth $20.8 million.

Promises Fulfilled romps home easily

PROMISES Fulfilled did exactly that with a facile front-running romp in the Grade 2 John Nerud, a seven-furlong sprint stakes.

Luis Saez simplified the exercise aboard the favourite to draw to a four-and-a-half-length win over Warrior’s Club and Killybegs Captain.

Owned by Robert Bone and trained by Dale Romans, the son of Shackleford snapped a tough four-race losing streak that started with the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and included Grade 1 stakes, the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Churchill Downs Sprint and Met Mile.