Study Guide: 2024 Jerome Stakes

Jan 02, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson

The second of Aqueduct’s five 2023-24 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers is taking place this Saturday. It’s the $150,000 Jerome S. held over a one-turn mile.

A small field of five horses has turned out to contest the Jerome, which dates back to 1866. Let’s review the entries:

Drum Roll Please

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: Barlar
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $101,130

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Imply
Color: Chestnut

A speed-favoring track compromised Drum Roll Please in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct last month, but he nevertheless rallied from seventh place to finish third in that 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. He’d previously broken his maiden racing one mile at Aqueduct, and returning to that configuration for the Jerome should make Drum Roll Please tough to beat for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.

Dornoch took home the Remsen Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct to gain 10 points on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!

Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts and get notified the next time he runs! ⤵️https://t.co/pLwhtzcj2r pic.twitter.com/qZpKBjwGr2

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 6, 2023

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Khanate

 

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Mongolian Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing sixth in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $44,820

Sire: Hightail
Dam: Mongolian Shopper
Color: Dark bay/brown

Khanate was tons the best when breaking his maiden in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland, dominating by 10 1/2 lengths, but he subsequently weakened from a pacesetting position to finish sixth in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. It’s possible sprinting is Khanate’s strong suit.

Here is a 2-year-old to keep an eye on going forward, #9 Khanate for HOF trainer Todd Pletcher and Calumet Farm.

Khanate was ridden to victory by jockey @iradortiz to take race 2 from Keeneland. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/nD2os1tA7M

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 11, 2023

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Sweet Soddy J

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Built Wright Stables
Breeder: Built Wright Stables
Trainer: Raymond Ginter Jr.
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Heft S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $157,250

Sire: Bee Jersey
Dam: Sweet Rhapsody
Color: Chestnut

Sweet Soddy J had no trouble wiring the seven-furlong Heft S. at Laurel Park by six lengths, but he’s running back on just seven days of rest, and stretching out over one mile is a question mark. His only previous try over this distance came in the Champagne (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a race in which Sweet Soddy J faded to finish last of eight after pressing the pace. On the bright side, Sweet Soddy J owns Brisnet Speed ratings of 91 and 90, suggesting he’s fast enough to factor against Saturday’s caliber of competition.

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El Grande O

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Barry K. Schwartz
Breeder: Stonewall Farm
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $319,000

Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Rainbow’s Song
Color: Dark bay/brown

The biggest threat to Drum Roll Please might be El Grande O, a New York-bred colt who has cracked the top three in seven of his eight starts. His lone miss came when sixth in the Champagne, but El Grande O bounced back to win the one-mile Sleepy Hollow S. at Aqueduct by 1 1/4 lengths. El Grande O brings strong Brisnet Speed ratings to the table and shouldn’t be underestimated, but he’s a pacesetter in a race packed with speed, and he’ll have to avoid getting hooked up in a destructive speed duel.

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Regalo

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: G. Harry Papaleo
Breeder: Sean Curtin
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a Laurel Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $74,000

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Perfect Bourbon
Color: Bay

After finishing second in his debut at Pimlico, Regalo took his talents to Laurel Park, where he won a seven-furlong maiden special weight and a 1 1/16-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer in succession. The latter victory came by 4 1/2 lengths, but the resulting 86 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Jerome field. Regalo is progressing in the right direction, but may need another step forward to beat the favorites.