First crop of Union Jackson off to a strong start on track
At 0h58, on December 18, 2021 • By AQUEDUCT
New York sire Union Jackson will be represented by two runners in Saturday’s $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way for eligible state-sired 2-year-olds going seven furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack. Entering his fourth year at stud in 2022, Union Jackson has been well-represented on the track so far, siring five winners in his first crop from 15 starters.
By sire of sires Curlin and out of 2009 Grade 1 Spinaway winner Hot Dixie Chick, Union Jackson is a graded stakes-placed stakes winner of over $273,000 with victories at five different racetracks. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Union Jackson was third in the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs in 2016 and won the Sam Houston Sprint Cup at Sam Houston Race Park and the Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows in 2017.
Retired to Sequel New York in Hudson in 2018, Union Jackson proved popular with breeders as the only son of Curlin standing in New York at the time until Solomini entered stud at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds last year.
Union Jackson bred 78 mares for 42 live foals in his first crop and has seen progeny sell for up to $180,000, making him the current leading sire in New York by gross, average, and median 2-year-old sales.
Union Jackson celebrated his first winner when Our Tiny Dancer trounced an off-the-turf maiden claimer by eight lengths on September 9 traveling one mile at Delaware Park.
Becky Thomas of Sequel New York said that she had not expected Union Jackson’s progeny to relish more ground.
“Union Jackson’s first crop has been precocious at the 2-year-old sales,” said Thomas. “We were a little surprised to see his foals wanting to go a bit longer. We’ll probably see him breeding more middle-distance mares. He is an athletic, well-balanced, and fast individual.”
A half-brother to Pauline’s Pearl, a daughter of Tapit who captured this year’s Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, Union Jackson hails from a family that continues to yield top performers on the racetrack.
