Belmont Notebook

Father and son double up in Belmont Stakes

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Posted: Thursday June 04, 1998 05:14 PM

Horse racing can get a much-needed shot in the arm if Real Quiet can win the Triple Crown (AP)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Allen Jerkens and his son, Jimmy, are going to the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, and both have horses set to challenge Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet.

Allen Jerkens, who trained his first winner 48 years ago, expected to enter Limit Out today, giving the Hall of Famer just his second Belmont starter.

How excited was the 69-year-old about having his second Belmont horse after Virginia Rapids (fifth, 1993)?

"I guess," was his response when asked if Limit Out was ready to run in the Belmont.

Then there's 37-year-old Jimmy Jerkens, who worked for his father until moving out on his own last fall. The younger Jerkens will saddle Thomas Jo, winner of four in a row, including the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on May 16, the same day as the Preakness.

If you're looking for a surprise horse, remember Allen Jerkens is known as the king of the upset. Two of his horses, Onion and Prove Out, beat Secretariat in his Triple Crown year of 1973 -- Onion beat him in the Whitney Handicap; Prove Out won the Woodward.

$5 Million On the Line: If Real Quiet should become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, he would earn a $5 million bonus offered by Visa. His purse total for the three races also would come out to a little more than $2 million.

"I feel indebted to Mike (Pegram) and Bob (Baffert), and I'd like to be in the winner's circle with them," jockey Kent Desormeaux said of Real Quiet's owner and trainer. "I'd like to win the $5 million bonus for them."

Asked if he was guaranteeing a win, Desormeaux said, "I'm 98 percent sure. There are things to overcome -- health, a stumble at the start."

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