The talented Englishman cruised to his second consecutive commanding triumph in a top-tier sprint, defeating four rivals with minimal effort by a margin of 3 ¾ lengths in the $485,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
Next up for the three-year-old son of Maxfield is the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland Race Course, where he is anticipated to enter the gate as the betting choice for the six-furlong event.
Accomplishments: The only blemish on Englishman’s record across five lifetime appearances is a runner-up performance when he tried a longer one-mile distance in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by SAP, held during the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard at Churchill Downs.
Testing his stamina limits was a logical move after he cruised to an impressive 7 ¼-length romp in his first career race in September 2025 at Churchill Downs, followed by an equally effortless 7 ½-length victory during his three-year-old debut at Fair Grounds in March 2026.
Following his runner-up effort in the Pat Day Mile, trainer Cherie DeVaux brought Englishman back to shorter distances. The bay colt equaled a track record of 1:20.40 for seven furlongs in his Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun victory on June 6, and came incredibly close to that benchmark while dominating his rivals in the H. Allen Jerkens. Ridden by his usual jockey Jose Ortiz, he covered the seven-furlong distance in 1:20.71, pulling away from the field with a final quarter-mile clocked at :23.69.
“That was yet another sensational outing by [Englishman],” DeVaux remarked. “With the sole exception of his attempt at a longer distance in the [Pat Day Mile], his performance level has been incredibly steady throughout his career. He is a thrilling individual. I honestly believe it is highly unlikely I will ever train another Thoroughbred of his caliber. He was simply spectacular once more.”
Speed Figures: Beyond his raw margins of victory and record-equaling times, Englishman’s speed ratings tell an equally formidable story. He recorded a lifetime-best Equibase Speed Figure of 120 in the Woody Stephens, backed up by a 118 in the H. Allen Jerkens. His Beyer Speed Figures are just as stellar, rising from a 115 in the Woody Stephens to a personal best of 117 on August 29. These speed ratings fully validate his visual superiority on the track—he is simply breathtaking.
Looking Ahead: On August 30, DeVaux indicated that Englishman would likely head straight to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint without another prep race. In doing so, he will bid to become the tenth sophomore in history to secure the prestigious sprint, and the first to achieve the feat since Drefong’s victory in 2016.
Possessing top-tier early foot, Englishman has a remarkable talent for breaking cleanly and quickly from the starting gate. He has set the pace from wire-to-wire in three of his four lifetime victories, while also demonstrating tactical flexibility by tracking comfortably in second during the Woody Stephens. This lethal mix of gate speed and high-cruising momentum makes him an exceptionally dangerous competitor.
“His initial acceleration is so rapid that he puts distance between himself and the field immediately, making it incredibly difficult for rival runners to get close enough to put pressure on him, which I believe is his secret weapon,” DeVaux explained. “Jose’s role in his race-day progression has been invaluable, as the colt is incredibly easy to manage during morning workouts. Jose has handled him beautifully, molding him into a truly world-class athlete.”
A highly convincing argument can be made that Englishman currently reigns as the fastest dirt runner on the planet, meaning my support is firmly behind him heading into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He is performing like an absolute titan.
