Jaxon Traveler Wins Bachelor Stakes for Munnings

Munnings is leaving April just how he started it – with a stakes winner. Jaxon Traveler (3c Munnings x Listen Boy, by After Market) became his sire’s fourth stakes winner of the month and third in eight days with a victory in the Listed Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Suffering the only blip on his five race radar when second in a stakes last out, he was ready to avenge that loss in this six furlong affair. He broke strongly and took the lead immediately to set the race tempo. He had a short lead early on but jockey Francisco Arrieta let him out a notch and he started to extend his lead.

The West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner-owned colt continued to lengthen the margin as he crossed the wire 2 ¾ lengths ahead of the closest rival at the line.

It was the second stakes victory for the Steve Asmussen-trained colt, who was a $140,000 2-year-old purchase by West Point from Grassroots Training and Sales last year. Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau, he is one of five winners out of the stakes-placed Listen Boy.

That mare is a half-sister to Thunder Gulch’s stakes winner Monzon and stakes placed Aleutian Harbour with their dam a half-sister to Grade III winner Keys to the Heart. Also under Jaxon Traveler’s third dam is the stakes winner and Grade I-placed Avie’s Shadow and Grade I-placed Rahy Dolly. His fourth dam is the Grade I winner Vific.

Munnings is the sire of eight stakes winners this year, led by Grade I winner Kimari. That puts him third among all North American sires with his 14 stakes horses this year good enough for fourth in that category alongside his sire Speightstown.