Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz had plenty to smile about on Saturday, June 6. In addition to winning the 158th Belmont Stakes (G1) with Golden Tempo, the trainer-jockey combo also won the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) with Englishman.
CRK Stable’s colorbearer sparkled in victory, equaling the track record of 1:20 2/5 for seven furlongs. Englishman raced in second position early, tracking Solitude Dude. He took the lead in the four-path nearing the quarter pole and widened powerfully through the lane. Englishman stopped the timer in 1:20.40 for seven furlongs after speeding through six furlongs in 1:07.56. The final clocking matched Darby Creek Road’s record of 1:20 2/5 set in 1978, when races were timed only in full fifth-seconds. DeVaux said the speed of the talented son of Maxfield was not unexpected.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” said DeVaux said of the high speed shown by Englishman. “This horse is so fast that we kind of get a glimpse of it when he runs. He runs like that and almost broke the track record at Fair Grounds wrapped up, so the sky is the limit for him right now, but I believe that’s at six and seven furlongs.”
Englishman Turning Heads of His Own
Ortiz praised the speedy colt’s breakout effort.
“It was pretty amazing, but obviously the track is fast,” Ortiz said. “It was impressive. Very impressive.”
While it is mainly Kentucky Derby winner and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo making headlines for DeVaux and Ortiz this spring, Englishman is also turning heads. DeVaux says that Englishman will “most definitely” target the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, Englishman is out of the winning Speightstown mare In It for the Gold. The $400,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale banked $275,000 in victory, lifting his career earnings to $519,500.