Sunny Ridge opts for softer spot in Jazil

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Patternrecognition and True Timber, the first- and second-place finishers of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile here on Dec. 1, are shooting for the stars in Saturday’s $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, Sunny Ridge, a close third in the Cigar, has his sights set a bit lower and perhaps more realistic.

Sunny Ridge will start as the likely favorite in a field of seven in Saturday’s $100,000 Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct.

Sunny Ridge may have run the best race of his 21-race career in the Cigar, where he was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Patternrecognition. Sunny Ridge received a ground-saving trip under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Cigar, but had to wait at a crucial point in the race – from the five-sixteenths pole to about the three-sixteenths pole – for running room. Once clear, he did finish well, just not well enough.

“Irad said he if could have gotten clear a little sooner, it might have been closer,” trainer Jason Servis said. “He was boxed in on the inside, which I was happy about because he was covered up and Irad had horse. I thought he ran super.”

Sunny Ridge has won the last three non-graded stakes in which he has run, including the 2017 Jazil.

Mr. Buff, trained by John Kimmel, has won three consecutive starts at 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track and is 4 for 5 overall at the distance. He is the likely pacesetter in the Jazil.

His early pressure is likely to come from Thebigfundamental, a 6-year-old gelding trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Pletcher and his father, Jake.

Thebigfundamental, who will be making just his seventh start in the Jazil, came off a 16-month layoff to run second, beaten a head by Title Ready, in an optional-claiming race going a mile.

“Hopefully, that race sets him up for the mile and an eighth,” Pletcher said. “He’s come back well, looks good so far.”

Title Ready also returns in the Jazil. Prior to beating Thebigfundamental in that Dec. 21 allowance, Title Ready finished second to Plainsman in the four-horse Discovery going 1 1/8 miles here on Nov. 24.

Completing the field are Backsideofthemoon, winner of the 2018 Jazil, Holiday Bonus, and Hero’s Welcome.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sunny Ridge, by Holy Bull
Last 3 Beyers: 102-101-92

◗ Comes off two strong efforts to Patternrecognition in graded stakes going a one-turn mile.

◗ Has handled both two turns and nine furlongs, and should get pace to close into.

◗ Manny Franco, who has ridden 28 winners from his last 89 mounts, has the call.

Thebigfundamental, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-87

◗ He is proven at nine furlongs.

◗ He outworked the 3-year-old Moretti on Jan. 19 in a half-mile move that was timed in 50.10 seconds, and Thebigfundamental galloped out another quarter in 24.87 seconds.

Mr. Buff, by Friend Or Foe
Last 3 Beyers: 97-93-91

◗ Has really gotten good lately, reeling off three straight wins, including a nose victory over the stubborn Twisted Tom in the Alex M. Robb Stakes.

◗ With regular rider David Cohen at Oaklawn, Junior Alvarado picks up the mount.

Title Ready, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-86

◗ In career-best form for red-hot Steve Asmussen stable and has two good runs over the track.

◗ He would benefit from a contested pace.