My World notches third consecutive victory with Jerome Stakes
?q=100)
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - My World is still a work in progress. How good he can be if and when he becomes a finished product remains to be seen. For now, though, he’s good enough to be a two-time stakes winner who has won three consecutive races.
Despite showing some signs of immaturity, My World rallied past heavily favored Balboa inside the sixteenth pole en route to a two-length victory in Saturday’s $139,500 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. Balboa, who took the lead from pacesetting Freedom’s Echo at the three-eighths pole, finished second by 3 3/4 lengths over Enforced Agenda. Freedom’s Echo finished last. Mailata scratched after winning Tuesday’s Future Stars Stakes at Parx Racing.
My World, a son of two-time champion Essential Quality, won the Nashua Stakes here on Nov. 1 by 3 1/2 lengths. While the Nashua is typically the prep for the Grade 2 Remsen, trainer Brad Cox felt that was much too soon for My World and opted to wait for the Jerome.
Dustin Dugas, Cox’s assistant who has overseen My World’s training at Belmont Park since he won his maiden here on Oct. 4, concurred with Cox’s decision.
“He’s still so green,” Dugas said. “Mentally, with each race he’s getting better. Right now, he’s doing things off of raw ability. Even in the mornings, he still messes around and does this or that. … When he does focus and you get down and start riding on him, he’ll run on. He’s a very talented little colt, but he can kind of get in his own way.”
On Saturday, under Jaime Rodriguez, My World sat a joint third outside of Enforced Agenda while Freedom’s Echo set the pace, stalked by Balboa. At the three-eighths pole, after a half-mile was run in 47.12 seconds, Balboa took the lead under Manny Franco.
Rodriguez sent My World after Balboa and was within a length turning for home. It seemed like Balboa might hold My World at bay through the lane, but outside the sixteenth pole My World was gaining and eventually went on by Balboa.
My World, owned by Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta, covered the mile in 1:38.96 and returned $7.23 as the third choice in the four-horse field.
Rodriguez, riding My World for a second straight race, noted his horse “was lugging in a little bit more this time than the last time. Once I hit him left-handed, he corrected himself and once he changed leads he gave me another gear.”
The victory, My World’s second straight going a one-turn mile, earned My World 10 qualifying points toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby should his connections opt to point in that direction. My World will need to become more professional and faster, but that’s all possible with a newly turned 3-year-old.
“Still a work in progress,” Dugas said.
The next stakes for 3-year-olds in New York is the $200,000 Withers on Jan. 31 should his connections opt to bring him back in four weeks and try him at 1 1/8 miles. There is also the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham going one mile on Feb. 28.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.