1st: Bluegrass Derby (G1), Middle Jewel (G1), The John Wooden Stakes (G2), The Holy Bull Stakes (G3)
2nd: Florida Derby (G1), Fountain of Ute Stakes (G1), Michael-Strike Stakes (G1), Hudson Hawk Stakes (G3), Stalwars Handicap, Owen Dudley Special
3rd: Louisiana Racing Fest Classic
4th: The New Yorker (G1)

By- Sharon Shimko

Roses and black-eyed susans. Last spring, Simmers caught that Triple Crown Fever yet one trainer, however, got a double-dose of glory as his Benny The Dip colt, Down The Jazz became a Sim-household name, taking the Bluegrass Derby and The Middle Jewel. In late 1999, trainer fleurdelis won the $25,000 shake for the colt to be affectionately known as “D.T.J.” For the computer stable juggernaut, Down The Jazz won his Maiden Claiming debut in an easy behind-the-pace style and fleurdelis had future star on his hands. He didn’t know it at first though -- Down The Jazz’s 76 debut speed figure warranted a stakes start right off the bat and the colt did everything asked of him, finishing the year with two wins from four starts, but, more importantly, he was a fresh, lightly-raced colt bred for stamina and with apparent ability, the sky was the limit.

Down The Jazz’s big coming-out party took place in his off-the-pace romp in Florida’s Holy Bull Stakes(G3) last January. As a bit of a longshot in that 1 1/16 mile test, his 103 SP# signaled Derby contender to railbirds everywhere. He continued on the three year old prep trail in Florida -- finishing second in both the Fountain of Ute and Florida Derby. After a poor trip out at California, fleurdelis set his sights on New York’s John Wooden Stakes and DTJ’s four length romp there over a classy field set himself amongst the favorites for the Derby.

Such high-profile stars are not without controversy -- Down The Jazz prepped for his first Saturday in May date with fourth-place over the lawn in the 12-furlong Sydney Derby. Debate brewed over the realism of such a preparatory course -- the doubters were silenced two weeks later as DTJ crushed the Bluegrass Derby field by near six lengths. He took the Middle Jewel two weeks later in similar behind-the-pace style and electrified the sim with hopes of a Triple Crown winner. Hopes were dashed three weeks later though as mcjonny’s Fit Groom (who interestingly prepped for The New Yorker in a week-before turf stakes) stole the carnations with a near wire-to-wire score. Further controversy came when DTJ ran just a week after the New Yorker in a Grade 1 event versus older horses. Again, the colt ran like a champ, finishing a tough second as a testamnet to his class in a very strong handicap horse field.

His remaining eight starts in 2000 were far from tremendous, though he did compete in both the Travelers and Breeders Bowl Classic. In the end, however, Down The Jazz was the colt for the spring time -- he won two of the three Triple Crown events as well as a top Grade 2 three year old prep race. With over $2-million in earnings, his spring time campaign was one of championship implications. He stands tall to be crowned Champion 3YO Colt of 2000. For DTJ’s fans everywhere, it is a honor well-deserved. Good luck, fleurdelis, and congratulations.

Race ID	Trk	RST	S	D	Race	Time	SP#	#	PP	C1	C2	C3	FIN	Jockey	Odds
886.0212	FL	3yo+	D	13	The OWEN DUDLEY Special -Stk	2:45 4/5	103	9	8	4 3	3 3-1/2	2 1/2	2 7	G Offenbacher	1.70
872.0515	LA	3yo+	D	9	Louisiana Racing Fest -- Classic -Stk	1:47 4/5	110	9	3	1 3/4	1 1-3/4	1 1-3/4	3 3-3/4	I Szott	8.20
858.0315	KY	3yo+	D	9	Lewis & Clark Stakes -G2	1:47 2/5	106	12	2	6 3-3/4	6 6-1/4	5 9-1/4	7 11-3/4	B Alt	13.00
837.0315	KY	3yo+	D	10	Breeders Bowl Classic -G1	2:00 4/5	101	12	9	7 5-1/4	6 8-1/2	5 11	8 17-1/4	N Lawton	13.00
823.2914	C1	3yo	D	8.5	Hudson Hawk Stakes -G3	1:41 2/5	111	12	6	1 1	1 1-1/2	2 1/4	2 4	J White	6.00
809.4913	E5	3yo+	T	8.5	The AGAIN TOMORROW Handicap -Stk	1:43 2/5	82	4	4	3 2	3 4	4 8-1/4	4 14	K Grimes	1.10
788.3705	VT	3yo+	D	10	--Special Restrictions -G1	2:00 1/5	104	12	5	4 2-1/4	5 3-3/4	5 8	6 17-1/2	R Haffner	12.00
767.0415	NY	3yo	D	10	Travelers Stakes -G1	2:02 3/5	91	12	10	7 4-1/2	7 7-1/2	7 10-3/4	7 13-3/4	R Haffner	4.40
697.0315	KY	3yo+	D	9	Michael-Strike Stakes -G1	1:47 2/5	112	12	3	3 3	3 4-1/2	3 2-1/4	2 6-1/2	B Alt	32.40
690.0415	NY	3yo	D	12	The New Yorker -G1	2:31 3/5	91	12	1	6 4-1/2	5 6-3/4	4 10-1/4	4 13-1/4	R Haffner	4.80
669.0815	MD	3yo	D	9.5	Middle Jewel Stakes -G1	1:54 4/5	111	12	3	4 2	4 2-1/4	1 3-1/2	1 2-3/4	R Haffner	6.70
655.0315	KY	3yo	D	10	Bluegrass Derby -G1	2:02 4/5	103	12	5	8 4-1/4	8 5-3/4	1 1/2	1 5-3/4	R Haffner	9.70
641.5411	A2	3yo	T	12	Sydney Derby -G1	2:34 2/5	76	12	9	6 3-1/2	6 5-1/4	3 4-1/2	4 8-3/4	F Hanson	3.00
627.0409	NY	3yo	D	9	The John Wooden Stakes -G2	1:48 2/5	110	12	8	8 4-3/4	5 7	2 3-3/4	1 4	R Haffner	7.90
620.0105	CA	3yo	D	9	The Santa Clara Derby -G1	1:49 2/5	84	12	3	7 2-3/4	7 4-1/4	7 6-3/4	8 16	F Gossett	6.30
599.0205	FL	3yo	D	9	Florida Derby -G1	1:48 4/5	98	12	3	4 1	3 1	2 2	2 8	A McKellar	11.80
579.0209	FL	3yo	D	8.5	Fountain of Ute -G1	1:43 4/5	95	12	5	1 ns	1 1	1 2	2 1	N Fry	9.60
565.0104	CA	3yo	D	8	Silver State Mile -Stk	1:35 3/5	92	11	5	5 4	5 6	4 7	4 8	B Rahill	5.00
551.0209	FL	3yo	D	8.5	The Holy Bull Stakes -G3	1:43	103	12	10	10 5	9 7	4 4	1 2	N Fry	14.30
530.3308	E1	3yo	T	8	The STALWARS Handicap -Stk	1:37 1/5	87	8	4	3 2	2 2	1 ns	2 1	J White	2.50
523.031	KY	2yo	D	6.5	The SELARI Special -Stk	1:16 3/5	76	12	10	7 3	7 6	8 8	6 12	B Alt	10.70
509.4610	NF	2yo	D	8	The SEINE MINSTREL Stakes -Stk	1:37 3/5	84	12	6	7 2	7 3	2 1	1 3	P Dennis	12.20
488.0512	LA	2yo	D	6.5	The MAPORAL Handicap -Stk	1:17 3/5	83	9	1	2 1	2 1	1 1	2 1	R Dexter	9.10
474.2801	OT	2yo	D	6.5	MC-25000	1:18 2/5	76	6	3	3 1	3 1	1 2	1 4	R Tatersall	1.10