Mr. Buff notches third straight Jazil Stakes victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Mr. Buff didn’t need the early lead to return to the winner’s circle. He just needed to run in the Jazil Stakes.

After stalking the pacesetting Musical Heart for the first six furlongs, Mr. Buff took the lead leaving the three-eighths pole and gradually drew away to a seven-length victory in the $100,000 Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct. It was the third consecutive year that Mr. Buff won this 1 1/8-mile stakes.

Tenderfoot, making his stakes debut, finished second by 1 3/4 lengths over Musical Heart. It was 11 1/4 lengths back to Backsideofthemoon, the 9-5 favorite, who broke poorly. Fame to Famous was last.

In winning the Jazil for the third straight year, Mr. Buff, a 7-year-old New York-bred gelding by Friend or Foe, improved his record to 16 wins from 43 starts. He has earned $1,295,786 for owners/breeders Mary and Chester Broman and trainer John Kimmel.

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Mr. Buff entered the Jazil off losses in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile and the Alex M. Robb, two races run one week apart. Mr. Buff broke poorly in the Robb and had to chase the pace before being passed by Bankit late.

He had six weeks from the Robb to the Jazil and, in his most recent workout, on Jan. 17, the typically speedy Mr. Buff sat off another horse in the move.

“It got drilled into everybody’s mind that this horse had to go to the lead and that basically got him in trouble in some of those higher-level races,” Kimmel said. “They were sending a speed horse or two and they basically battled and he ran too fast and never found his comfort level. When this horse has a chance to get comfortable, he’s pretty dangerous.”

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, riding Mr. Buff for the second time, noted that he rode Musical Heart in the Queens County and trainer Rob Atras wanted to make the lead that day. Instead, it was Backsideofthemoon who made the lead and went gate to wire while Musical Heart chased and finished second.

On Saturday, Carmouche said Mr. Buff broke well but he was content to let Musical Heart, under Manny Franco, set the pace. Musical Heart had a two-length lead through a quarter in 23.96 seconds and a half-mile in 48.95. Mr. Buff drew on even terms after six furlongs in 1:13.99, opened up a clear advantage by the quarter pole and edged away from there.

Mr. Buff covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.47 and returned $6.10 as the second choice.

“I figured [Musical Heart] would go because Rob wanted me on the lead last time,” Carmouche said. “I just played it to my advantage, made him go a little faster to the lead, then I sat outside and it went perfect from there.”

Tenderfoot, who had won three consecutive races around one turn for trainer Charlton Baker, was comfortable sitting third under Eric Cancel, but was no match for Mr. Buff in the lane and proved second-best.

“I was in the perfect position because I wanted to be on the outside of Mr. Buff,” Cancel said. “Mr. Buff is just a really good New York-bred; for my horse to run this big against him first time in a stakes is huge for Charlie and for the horse, too. I think he’ll just keep on improving.”

Jockey Jose Lezcano said Backsideofthemoon attempted to break before the doors opened.

“He was backing up when the gates did open and broke bad,” said Lezcano, who added that Backsideofthemoon ran “the same pace the whole way around.”

Kimmel said a race like the $125,000 Stymie on Feb. 27 could be an option for Mr. Buff’s next race.