Weyburn Profile

Weyburn shocked spectators by winning the Gotham Stakes (G3) by a nose at odds of 46/1, but returned to finish an uninspiring fourth in the Wood Memorial (G1).

After this, it was reported that his connections had decided to skip the Kentucky Derby and will aim for the Belmont Stakes in June instead.

James "Jimmy" Jerkens trains the three-year-old colt. Weyburn has two victories from five starts, with current earnings of $277,520.

In the start of his three-year-old season - the one-mile Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct - Weyburn was reluctant to load into the starting gate. Breaking from post eight under jockey Trevor McCarthy, Weyburn moved clear of the field to press pacesetter Freedom Fighter from the outside.

After putting away the pacesetter, Weyburn held off the charge of Crowded Trade. Weyburn shied inwards nearing the eighth pole but was corrected before making contact. He held on to win the Gotham Stakes by a nose.

In the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, Weyburn was again reluctant to load into the starting gate. He pressed the pace while racing three to five wide the entire way. However, Weyburn tired in the stretch and disappointingly finished fourth, three lengths behind the winner, Bourbonic.

Weyburn placed fifth in his debut at Belmont Park last October behind eventual Pasco Stakes winner Nova Rags. Withers (G3) victor Risk Taking was in the same field.

He improved in his next start, a seven-furlong maiden event at Aqueduct. Weyburn dueled on the inside of Kid Cash and put that one away. However, he was passed in the stretch by Wolfie's Dynaghost and had to settle for second place, one-and-a-half lengths behind.

Weyburn put it all together in his third and final start as a two-year-old. Returning at the same distance and track, Weyburn fought on the lead and pulled clear in the stretch to win by one-and-a-half lengths.

James "Jimmy" Jerkens is the son of Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens. His brother Steve is also a trainer. At age 11, Jimmy began working for his father, who was nicknamed "The Giant Killer" due to his ability to upset some of the most outstanding horses in history, including the legendary Secretariat and Kelso.

Jimmy Jerkens started his own stable in 1997 with just nine horses. He has conditioned 11 Grade One winners during his career, including Breeders' Cup Mile hero Artie Schiller, and Corinthian, the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner. In 2014, his charges finished first and second in the Travers Stakes (G1), a rare feat.

Jerkens' sole Kentucky Derby entrant, Wicked Strong, placed fourth in 2014. He also trained 2009 Kentucky Derby favourite Quality Road, who had won the Florida Derby (G1), but the colt was injured and missed the Run for the Roses. Jerkens has earnings of over $60million from over 4,000 starters.

Jockey Trevor McCarthy is the son of Michael McCarthy and followed in his footsteps. The young McCarthy started riding at the end of 2011.

On New Year's Day 2013, he rode four winners at Laurel Park. Trevor is consistently among the leading riders in Maryland and has amassed over $55million in earnings from just over 9,000 mounts.

The family-owned and operated Chiefswood Stables Limited in Canada has a goal of breeding and racing horses for the classic races. They began the venture in 2000 and have campaigned seven graded winners.

Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile - Sunday Affair by A.P. Indy) has a stamina-oriented pedigree.

A late bloomer, Pioneerof the Nile gathered a four-race win-streak, sweeping the Cash Call Futurity, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, San Felipe Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby as a three-year old. The Bob Baffert trainee put in a strong effort in the 2009 Kentucky Derby but finished second to shock winner Mine That Bird.

After placing a discouraging 11th in the Preakness Stakes, Pioneerof The Nile was given time off. While preparing for a fall campaign, he sustained a soft tissue injury to his left foreleg and was retired. The dark bay colt ended his career with a 5-1-1 record from 10 starts and earnings of $1,634,200.

Pioneerof the Nile was a successful stallion and his offspring win at all distances and over all surfaces. He passed away suddenly at the young age of 13 in 2019. His legacy lives on in his most accomplished son, 2015 Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah, who is also a successful sire.

Pioneerof the Nile is represented by 37 stakes winners, including 2016 Champion Two-Year-Old, Classic Empire, who placed fourth in the Kentucky Derby after a troubled trip. He then finished a heartbreaking second, beaten by a head, in the Preakness Stakes.

Weyburn is the second stakes winner from the unraced Sunday Affair. His half-brother Yorkton is a multiple Grade Three-winning sprinter in Canada, while another half-brother, Nipigon, has placed in multiple stakes from a mile to one-and-an-eighth miles.

The second generation of Weyburn's female family holds only one stakes winner. However, the class is found in the third generation, starting with his third dam, multiple Grade One heroine, Maplejinsky. The mare's descendants include Champion Older Mare Sky Beauty, the graded stakes winners and sires Point of Entry, Tale of Ekati and Violence, plus Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Pleasant Home and multiple Grade 1 winning mare, Guarana.