Unified Tries Deeper Water in Bay Shore

Two years to the day after sending Centennial Farms' Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) north from his winter base at Palm Meadows to capture the GI Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, trainer Jimmy Jerkens is set to pull off a similar move with unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}) in Saturday's GIII Bay Shore S. at the Big A. Unified captured his six-furlong debut at Gulfstream in dominant wire-to-wire fashion Feb. 21 [video], and the trainer said the Centennial colorbearer has trained forwardly ahead of his second trip to the post.

“He hasn't missed a beat,” Jerkens said of the $325,000 Fasig-Tipton yearling purchase. “It's a big step up, but we thought he has the talent. He's done very well since then, so we're taking a shot.”

Although Unified was bet down to 4-5 favoritism first out, the sheer ease at which he cleared the field and confidently strode home three lengths in front caught the eye of many, including Jerkens.

“I was surprised he broke that well, because he hadn't been a very good gate horse in the morning,” said the 57-year-old conditioner. “For some reason, that day it looked like they opened his [stall] before the others. He just got out there. He most likely won't break that well again, but I hope he does. We've been trying to work him behind horses and get him used to the dirt, because he did just go to the lead the other day when he broke his maiden, and he didn't get much experience except for breaking out of the gate and running as fast as he could to the finish line.”

Jerkens added that working behind horses in the mornings has proven to be no obstacle for Unified, leading him to believe that the class of the colt will shine through regardless of how the race plays out. If all goes according to plan, the Bay Shore could serve as a springboard to tries at longer distances in the future, but Jerkens is taking it one race at a time.

“It's all speculation,” Jerkens concluded. “The proof's in the pudding. We're stepping him way up as far as quality, and it's also another eighth of a mile. It's a big step up, but I think if any horse can do it, it's him.”

—@BMassamTDN