McPeek, Jerkens Embark on a New ‘Collaboration’ in New York

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, a long-time New York based trainer before embarking on a two-year stint in Saudi Arabia, will oversee a fledgling New York-based string for Kenny McPeek, according to the Kentucky-based conditioner who announced the collaboration on X Sunday afternoon.

“Jimmy Jerkens is going to be anchoring a New York division for me, starting this week,” confirmed McPeek.

He explained, “I am based in Kentucky, and I have family here and my history has been with yearlings, working yearling sales, I have been fortunate enough to build my racing with yearling auctions and working with a lot of people over the decades. This will offer me more time to stay in Kentucky with less worries about a New York division. Jimmy is such a world-class horseman that I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Jerkens, who announced his decision to leave the U.S. for Saudi Arabia in the spring of 2023, heralded his return early this season.

“He just transitioned back from Saudi Arabia after several years there. I'm sure he had an opportunity to rebuild his stable, but at the same time, we needed somebody who was going to be there for the new construction of Belmont Park,” said McPeek. “With the new grandstand and everything that is happening at Belmont Park, we really want to be there with a firm division of horses and with someone we can trust to be on top of things, and Jimmy is that guy.”

McPeek enjoyed a banner season in 2024, winning both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in addition to being named an Eclipse Award finalist as the nation's leading trainer.

“I am a little bit tentative in that I started as a little trainer, and this is a big-trainer move, but we are fortunate that we have this great base of clientele that will let us go to the yearling sales in the season and we can't runt hem all in one place,” he admitted. “I am lucky because I have people including Harold Lerner who are based in New York that are really excited about Jimmy helping us in this new collaboration.”

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