Jerome distance the challenge for Condo King

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though entered in Friday’s $125,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at six furlongs, Condo King is likely to scratch from that spot and attempt two turns in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Jerome is the first of four races on this circuit for 3-year-olds with Kentucky Derby aspirations. The Jerome, at a mile and 70 yards, awards 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishers to the May 7 Derby.

A field of nine, led by Remsen Stakes runner-up Flexibility, was entered in the Jerome. King Kranz, like Condo King, was cross-entered in the Lost in the Fog and the Jerome.

Condo King, a son of Tiz Wonderful, is coming off a neck victory over King Kranz in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race. Condo King set the pace that day, was passed by King Kranz, the 1-2 favorite, then battled back along the inside to prevail by a neck before galloping out several lengths in front.

“I was trying to get him ready to run a mile, but I don’t think we had him ready to run a mile that day,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “With two races under him, I think he’s ready to stretch out a little bit.”

Condo King debuted in May, finishing second to Uncle Vinny in a five-furlong race at Belmont Park. He came out of that race with a shin issue and didn’t race again until Nov. 8, when he ran third behind Vorticity. That horse came back to win the Marylander Stakes and is entered in the Jerome. Condo King and Stradivari, third and fourth in that Nov. 8 race, each came back to win a maiden race next out.

Condo King drew post 7 in the nine-horse Jerome field and will be ridden by Angel Arroyo.

The Jerome field, from the rail out, is Silent Assassin, In Equality, Donegal Moon, Flexibility, Vorticity, Bird of Trey, Condo King, King Kranz, and Let Me Go First.