THOROUGHBRED RACING : Jackson’s Luck Changing Again

Bruce Jackson was hoping to make his New York training debut in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday with the Irish colt In Excess. Unfortunately, In Excess was one of several horses locked out of the Mile because of the large number of entries.

Last weekend at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Jackson was brimming with confidence as he sent out the English filly Native Twine in the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup. But something went wrong, and Native Twine finished last.

In July, the Jackson colt Jovial was considered the best 3-year-old in the West after consecutive victories in the Cinema and Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. Jovial was being pointed for the $1-million Travers Stakes and a host of other major events when he was stricken by a serious stomach ailment.

Lumped together, the three incidents would provide most trainers with a good start on an ulcer. But Jackson, a veteran of the thoroughbred and quarter horse wars, simply shrugs and looks down his stable roster for the next batter.

“Good horses make the difference,” Jackson said at Santa Anita. “They answer a lot of worries.”

Besides, those three sad tales all have happy endings, in varying degrees.

Anticipating the capacity Breeders’ Cup Mile crowd, Jackson ran In Excess at Santa Anita last Sunday in the Volante Handicap. The colt won easily.

Native Twine came out of her Keeneland race fine and will run at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

And Jovial, after flirting with a dangerous case of colitis, is training again toward what could be a banner 4-year-old campaign.

“He was a very sick horse,” Jackson said as Jovial returned to the barn after a gallop. “It turned out something was killing all the bacteria in his stomach. They had to treat him with a lot of antibiotics, then pump him full of stuff that would restore his system--dairy cultures, things like that. He’s in good health now, but I’m not about to rush him. I want him feeling strong before we put any pressure on him.”

In Excess, also a 3-year-old, has been impressive. The Volante was his second stakes win in four starts since arriving from England in July. In Excess has run only on grass, but Jackson trains him on the dirt and claims he will be a better main-track horse than Jovial, who came to this country as a turf runner.

“Jovial didn’t like it at all,” Jackson said of the dirt track. “We had to teach him to handle it. But In Excess loves it. Eddie Delahoussaye worked him a mile once at Del Mar in 1:34 and change. I asked him to guess the time and he said, ‘Oh, about 1:38.’ That’s how easy he did it.”

As for Native Twine, Jackson took all the blame for her Keeneland failure.

“When she got here from England she had a cut on the left side of her mouth,” the trainer said. “I had it healed, but just in case there was still some tenderness I left the bit a little bit loose. So what happens? She flips her tongue over the bit and stops running.”

This year, Jackson has for the most part been successfully applying his know-how with American horses to a wave of foreign runners. Jackson and his primary patron, real estate developer Jack Munari of Palos Verdes, have tapped into the pipeline of British bloodstock agent Richard Duggan.

Duggan has a reputation for finding potential European talent for American clients on a budget that does not require oil money or small fortunes. Jackson is a believer.

“While most guys are watching replays from races around here, Richard is studying tapes from England and France,” he said. “In Excess bolted in a race at Royal Ascot and embarrassed his owner, so he was up for sale. We’ve got a filly named Hunting Party who finished second to Salsabil--before Salsabil became the best filly in Europe. The horses are there, and he knows where to look.”

Has Jackson changed his methods to accommodate his new brood of foreign-trained runners?

“Not really,” he said. “It’s the ability of the horse that really makes the difference. I did make a whirlwind trip to England and France last spring, and that was valuable. I was able to see what horses go through earlier in their careers. That way, I can understand better how they might act later when they get over here.”

Horse Racing Notes

In the wake of trainer Roger Stein’s request to have a 976 handicapping line, the California Horse Racing Board is investigating all licensees (owners, trainers, etc.) who also make public selections in any form. CHRB Executive Secretary Dennis Hutcheson said the board plans to enforce a strict interpretation of the rule against such practices, but he left open the possibility of a rule change down the line.