The primary of 4 2025 run for roses prep races at Aqueduct Racetrack changed into a lopsided rout as Cyclone State clobbered six 3-year-old rivals to take the Jan. 4 $150,000 Jerome Stakes in his third straight victory on the Huge A, all at a one-turn mile distance.
“He actually likes this monitor and the gap,” coach Chad Summers stated.
The Jerome is not only a race on the primary Saturday of January, it is also all a few race on the primary Saturday in Might — the Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve. The Jerome victory netted Cyclone State, an Iowa-bred son of McKinzie 10, qualifying factors towards a begin within the Kentucky Derby.
The winner will now journey to the hotter climes of Florida whereas the connections mull the colt’s subsequent step on the Triple Crown path.
“Every little thing is open. The gorgeous factor about that is that it means that you can turn into a handicapper,” stated Summers, who plans to ship Cyclone State to Palm Meadows following the colt’s profitable stakes debut. “We’ll watch the opposite 3-year-old stakes as we speak. We’ll carry on paying consideration, however we aren’t going to decide to something now. We’ll take pleasure in this. Having a pleasant 3-year-old is nice. It will get you excited if you get off the bed within the morning, and I’m grateful to the homeowners for giving a small steady like ours an opportunity with a horse like this.”
On paper, there gave the impression to be an abundance of early pace within the Jerome, however when the beginning gates opened, solely 46-1 shot Enduring Spirit and Cyclone State with jockey Luis Rivera Jr. confirmed any early curiosity. The pair dueled by a gap quarter-mile in :23.43 as Cyclone State pulled clear earlier than the highest of the flip.
On the flip, favored Studlydoright (9-5) and second selection Ican (5-2) took goal on the chief, however Cyclone State simply fended them off and drew away in decisive vogue.
On their own on the prime of the stretch after six furlongs in 1:13.20, Cyclone State ($8.10) led by a whopping eight lengths with a furlong to go and cruised beneath the wire 3 1/2 lengths in entrance of a closing Omaha Omaha in 1:40.82 over a monitor rated quick, however taking part in relatively gradual.
The victory got here on the heels of mile maiden and allowance non-obligatory claimer victories at Aqueduct by a 3-year-old who was additionally second in a mile maiden race on the Huge A and was making his seventh profession begin. The win pushed Cyclone State’s earnings to $208,250.
“We thought the McKinzie yearlings have been athletic and can be two-turn horses, so we weren’t discouraged when he did not break his maiden instantly. We all the time felt he would get higher with extra distance and we’re excited by that,” Summers stated.
Omaha Omaha, a son of Audible skilled by Michael Gorham, was second after breaking slowly and working final for the opening half-mile. He picked up 5 qualifying factors. Ican was one other 3 1/4 lengths again in third and acquired three factors.
“I assumed he ran nice. He is crying for extra floor,” Gorham stated. This was just about our solely choice domestically, so we gave it a go and he confirmed he belongs. Possibly we’ll come again in a month for the Withers (Feb. 1 at Aqueduct).” “He gained on a fairly gradual monitor at Laurel Park. I do not assume that was actually an element. I hoped there can be pace duel and most of them did tire however (Cyclone State) saved on working. It setup good for him and I feel he ran his race. He simply ran out of floor.”
McAfee, the morning-line favourite and a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the 12 months favourite Thorpedo Anna, was scratched.
