The primary of 4 2025 run for roses prep races at Aqueduct Racetrack became 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 Massive A, all at a one-turn mile distance.
“He actually likes this monitor and the space,” coach Chad Summers mentioned.
The Jerome isn’t just a race on the primary Saturday of January, it is also all a few race on the primary Saturday in Could — the Kentucky Derby offered 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 lets you grow to be a handicapper,” mentioned Summers, who plans to ship Cyclone State to Palm Meadows following the colt’s profitable stakes debut. “We will watch the opposite 3-year-old stakes at this time. We’ll carry on paying consideration, however we’re not 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 whenever you get away from bed within the morning, and I’m grateful to the house owners for giving a small secure like ours an opportunity with a horse like this.”
On paper, there seemed to be an abundance of early velocity 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 way of 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 trend.
On their lonesome 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 enjoying relatively sluggish.
The victory got here on the heels of mile maiden and allowance optionally available claimer victories at Aqueduct by a 3-year-old who was additionally second in a mile maiden race on the Massive 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 at all times felt he would get higher with extra distance and we’re excited by that,” Summers mentioned.
Omaha Omaha, a son of Audible educated by Michael Gorham, was second after breaking slowly and operating final for the opening half-mile. He picked up 5 qualifying factors. Ican was one other 3 1/4 lengths again in third and obtained three factors.
“I believed he ran nice. He is crying for extra floor,” Gorham mentioned. This was just about our solely choice regionally, 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 received on a fairly sluggish monitor at Laurel Park. I do not assume that was actually an element. I hoped there can be a very good velocity duel and most of them did tire however (Cyclone State) saved on operating. 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 Yr favourite Thorpedo Anna, was scratched.
