Trainer Leah Gyarmati's initial thought immediately following Noble Moon’s two-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome was to wait for the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes on March 1. However, Gyarmati said Sunday she may elect to run back in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 instead.
Noble Moon was fit enough and classy enough to turn back Classic Giacnroll and edge away for a two-length victory in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct to put himself on the Triple Crown trail.
Juan Carlos Guerrero, who officially is the assistant to his wife Lisa, will attempt to get back in the spotlight Saturday at Aqueduct when he and his wife send out Classic Giacnroll in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes for 3-year-olds.
After two terrific performances as a longshot, Noble Moon most certainly will be a strong favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
Noble Moon heads a field of eight 3-year-olds hoping to take their first steps down the Triple Crown trail in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
Shared Belief is scheduled to have two or three starts next spring as preps for the Kentucky Derby. Both the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 8 and the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5 are on the prospective schedule.
With still more than five months until the 140th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, it came as no surprise whatsoever Saturday when the mutuel field closed as an odds-on favorite in Pool 1 of the Derby Future Wager.
With four maidens in the field and only two horses that have won so much as a first-level allowance race, surely the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes could have come up tougher.
It is with the Kentucky Derby in mind that trainer Shug McGaughey is running Honor Code in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
Churchill Downs will offer parimutuel future wagering on the Kentucky Derby in November for the first time when Pool 1 for the 2014 Derby opens for a four-day run Wednesday at noon Eastern.
