First Constitution (CHI) wins Aqueduct’s Jazil S. in US stakes debut

First Constitution, a Group 1 winner in his native Chile, got his first northern hemisphere stakes win in Saturday’s $100,000 Jazil S. at Aqueduct.

The 5-year-old son of Constitution is owned by WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC along with his breeder Haras Don Alberto. First Constitution is the first black type winner of 2022 for his sire, who topped the 2021 Third-Crop Sire list with 14 stakes winners and more than $10 million in progeny earnings.

First Constitution led from start to finish in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile contest. He was pressed by Core Conviction through a half-mile in a swift :46.78 before he began to pull away. The margin was two lengths after six furlongs and increased through the stretch as he came to the finish a 6 ¾-length winner in 1:47.96 on a fast main track.

“He’s a Group 1 winner going a mile and three sixteenths in South America, so you would imagine a mile and an eighth wouldn’t be a problem up here,” Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said. “Todd will get with the ownership group and decide what’s next for him.”

The victory upped First Constitution’s record to 4-2-2 in nine starts, with earnings of $168,019.