By America’s Best Racing
OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2016) — After twice chasing highly regarded Mohaymen in vain last autumn, Flexibility capitalized on his arch-rival’s absence to gain an easy 4 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Watch Video
Flexibility — a New York-bred by California stallion Bluegrass Cat — took his debut by 1 3/4 lengths Oct. 10 at Belmont Park before placing second to Mohaymen in a pair of grade II contests at Aqueduct. He fell short by 1 3/4 lengths in the Nashua Nov. 4 and by 1 1/2 lengths a little more than three weeks later in the Remsen.
With trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opting for much warmer surroundings and targeting Mohaymen for the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park, Flexibility was left with a golden opportunity to pick up 10 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying series.
“It gives you a sigh of relief to not face him right now,” said Cherie DeVaux, assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “He can build his confidence and—I don’t want to knock anyone here—get a race that is easier for him.”
The one-mile-and-70-yard Jerome began with Donegal Moon falling to his face as he stumbled badly out of post 3 in the starting gate and unseated jockey Manuel Franco. Horse and rider appeared to be fine. Flexibility, who started in post 4, shook off the potentially unsettling mishap that occurred beside him to assume a perfect stalking position for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Vorticity, being measured against graded stakes company for the first time, set the early pace for Jose Ortiz, with Bird of Trey and Condo King in hot pursuit. Vorticity carved out the opening quarter in :23.48, the half in :47.31, and six furlongs in 1:12.97.
Ortiz made sure to bide his time with Flexibility, a bay son of Bluegrass Cat , in fourth. “He broke sharp. I had to take a hold to get him back,” he said.
With ample speed in the field of eight, Ortiz treated the Jerome as an educational opportunity for his responsive New York-bred. “I was told they wanted him to rate and save ground,” he said. “When I asked, he just took off. I just wanted him to be able to switch leads in the stretch and finish in the stretch. He did it easy.”
Flexibility loomed four-wide as they entered the turn for him and blew past the top three when prompted by Ortiz. He gradually edged away during the stretch run, completing the distance in 1:42.98. Vorticity held well to run second. In Equality, with Junior Alvarado aboard, closed from fifth to be third.
Flexibility returned $3.10 to win, $2.50 to place, and $2.10 to show. He banked $120,000 for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, hiking his career earnings to $256,000.
Bird of Trey was fourth, followed by Let Me Go First, Condo King, and Silent Assassin to complete the order of finish. King Kranz was scratched after winning the Lost In The Fog Stakes the previous day at Aqueduct.
DeVaux said Brown will meet with the owners before determining the colt’s next start. “Hopefully, each one he can continue to step up,” she said of the colt, who was bred by WinStar Farm. “He has been professional throughout.”
Whatever the future holds for Flexibility as he works his way toward a hoped-for berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Mohaymen lurks in the distance.