James Jerkens      Birthdate:  Jan. 24, 1959      Birthplace: Bayshore, N.Y.      Residence: Merrick, N.Y.      Family: Single

2008 Gulfstream Record

• The son of a Hall of Famer is carving out a world-class career of his own with two Breeders’ Cup wins and regular trips to the Gulfstream for the track’s biggest races 
• Spent 20 years as the assistant to his father Allen Jerkens before starting his own stable in 1997
• He has had an impact in South Florida in recent years after wintering in New York early in his career. He tied for the 1999-2000 Aqueduct inner-track meet title
• First career winner was also his first stakes star with Ninth Inning putting Jerkens in the winner’s circle in 1997 weeks before taking the Astarita Stakes at Belmont Park
• Since 2000 he’s won nearly 40 stakes in New York
• He won the 2005 Netjets Mile with Artie Schiller and the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with Corinthian 
• The latter started his campaign with two wins at Gulfstream including the Gulfstream Park Handicap. The eventual 2007 Met Mile winner finished first in all of his four career starts at Gulfstream, but was disqualified from victory in the 2006 Fountain of Youth Stakes
• Jerkens also won the Davona Dale in 2007 with Christmas Kid and the 2008 Sabin Handicap with Lady Marlboro
• Biggest stars in 2008 included Grade 1-winning filly Zaftig and Dwyer Stakes winner Mint Lane. Other stakes stars include Thomas Jo, who finished third in the 1998 Belmont Stakes and won three stakes that year; Dat You Miz Blue, Iron Deputy, Lager, Multiple Choice, Sir Greeley, Snake Mountain and Smokey Glacken, who won the 2006 First Lady Handicap and Hurricane Bertie Handicap at Gulfstream.

Other:

Encouraged to start his own stable by his father, who helped him get started by convincing owner Peter Blum to let him take over a string of seven runners ... Brother Steve is also a trainer