He had to dig deep to do it, but even-money favorite Vyjack was able to edge 41-1 shot Siete de Oros to win the $200,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. II) on January 5th at Aqueduct.
Ridden to victory by Cornelio Velasquez, Vyjack flashed speed from the start and soon found himself dueling for the lead with Mudflats through fractions of :24.14 and :47.58. Vegas No Show, Long River, and Siete de Oros were also right in contention, every one of them within two lengths of the lead, while Amerigo Vespucci, Notacatbutallama, and James Jingle were the trailers.
As the horses made their way around the far turn, things began to tighten up. Siete de Oros had squeezed through along the rail to take the lead, but Mudflats, Vyjack, and Vegas No Show were still right their in contention, stretched out across the track with less than a half-length between them. Right behind them sat Long River, Amerigo Vespucci, and Notacatbutallama, meaning that seven of the eight runners had a legitimate shot at winning as the field turned for home.
But in the blink of an eye, those seven shrunk down to just two. As Mudflats and Vegas No Show retreated, Siete de Oros and Vyjack hooked up for command of the lead; neither giving an inch from the eighth pole home.
It was unfortunate that one of the colts had to lose, as both ran winning races, but in the end, Vyjack was just a little bit better. He hit the wire in front by a nose while stopping the clock for a mile and seventy yards in 1:40.67.
Amerigo Vespucci finished well to secure third, while Long River rounded out the superfecta.
Vyjack, a son of Into Mischief out of the Stravinsky mare Life Happened, is now unbeaten in three starts. He is trained by Rudy Rodriguez and owned by Pick Six Racing.
-Keelerman
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