Coltandmississippi supplemented to re-drawn Jerome

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct underwent some alterations when it was re-drawn Wednesday after having to be postponed from New Year’s Day due to inclement weather.

Coltandmississippi, beaten favorite in the Smooth Air Stakes last month at Gulfstream Park, was supplemented to the one-turn mile Jerome, which offers 17 qualifying points to its top four finishers (10-4-2-1) toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby. Factor This, a maiden winner here Dec. 17, and Glennwood, a winner for maiden $20,000 claiming at Churchill Downs in September, also were supplemented to the Jerome.

Firenze Fire, the Grade 1 Champagne winner, did enter back and is expected to be a strong favorite in the Jerome.

Honor Up, Millionaire Runner, and Diamond King, winner of the Heft Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 29, did not enter back after having originally been entered in the Jerome.

Coltandmississippi, a son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Todd Pletcher, won his debut at Saratoga before having a nightmarish trip in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park where he finished last of 10. He won a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park West by six lengths Oct. 27 before running fifth as the favorite in the Smooth Air Stakes.

Coltandmississippi drew the rail in the Jerome, the fourth consecutive race he drew that post. Pletcher felt the rail draw compromised Coltandmississippi’s chances in the Smooth Air where he was bumped soundly at the break and then chased horses before ultimately finishing fifth, 9 1/2 lengths behind the Pletcher-trained Bal Harbour.

“He got away poorly, was chasing and always in behind and in between, and was never able to get into a comfortable rhythm,” Pletcher said Wednesday from south Florida.

Pletcher had planned to run in the Mucho Macho Man, but didn’t like the rail draw and scratched him from the race. It was then decided to ship the horse to New York. Pletcher is hoping the fact Coltandmississippi had an uninterrupted training schedule in Florida might offer his horse an advantage over those based in New York, where the tracks at Aqueduct and Belmont Park were closed for four consecutive mornings due to weather.

Coltandmississippi arrived at Belmont on Tuesday.

Coltandmississippi will run in the Jerome with blinkers on for the first time, at the suggestion of John Velazquez who told Pletcher the colt “could be a little more focused.” Velazquez is at Gulfstream on Saturday, so Trevor McCarthy has picked up the mount.

Firenze Fire will have a new rider in Manny Franco as his regular pilot, Irad Ortiz Jr., is committed to riding at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Seven Trumpets, who shipped up here two weeks ago from south Florida, also will have a new rider – Paco Lopez replaces Robby Albarado, who is at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Seven Trumpets breaks from post 2.

Others entered include Regalian, Old Time Revival, and Smooth B.