Veterans Mr. Buff and Stan the Man meet in Jazil

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – For as many times as Mr. Buff and Stan the Man have raced at Aqueduct, the two 6-year-olds have never faced each other. That will change Saturday when Mr. Buff and Stan the Man head an eight-horse field that includes 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston in the $100,000 Jazil Stakes.

Stan the Man is the fresher horse, having raced just once in the last seven months, while Mr. Buff is making his 27th start in the last 29 months. Both have excelled at Aqueduct and especially at the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Jazil. Stan the Man is has a 5-4-1 record in 12 starts at Aqueduct and is 2 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles. Mr. Buff is 6-3-0 from 11 starts at Aqueduct and is 5 for 5 at the distance.

With rain in the forecast, perhaps the advantage Saturday lies with Stan the Man given his penchant for a wet track. He has three wins and two narrow defeats over wet surfaces. Mr. Buff is 2 for 6 over a wet track, with both wins coming at Aqueduct.

On Dec. 21, Stan the Man came off a 6 1/2-month layoff to win the Queens County, holding off Adventist by a neck. While most of his prior success had come on the front end, Stan the Man rated successfully under Dylan Davis.

“I was kind of surprised last time being a little bit fresh and pretty sharp going in and running the mile and an eighth that he settled so easy for [Davis],” trainer John Terranova said. “But he’s gotten older and matured. He’s pretty tactical, wherever you want to put him. Seeing as how there looks to be a good pace in here, I’m sure he’ll settle into a nice trip.”

On Dec. 28, Mr. Buff trounced New York-breds by 7 1/2 lengths in the Alex M. Robb Handicap for his 12th victory and sixth stakes win. Mr. Buff, who won last year’s Jazil, is also a front-running type, but showed in the Robb that he could be effective tracking a horse.

“When you can get him to settle he has a much stronger kick,” trainer John Kimmel said.

The other speed in the Jazil is Leitone, the Claiming Crown Jewel winner, who breaks from post 7 under Jose Lezcano.

Sir Winston is making his second start since his upset victory in the Belmont Stakes last June. He comes off a last-place finish in the Woodchopper Stakes on yielding turf at Fair Grounds on Dec. 28. He has been dealing with a foot issue that arose following a Jan. 18 workout in which he lost a shoe. He will wear glue-on shoes for the first time.

On Thursday, trainer Mark Casse said Sir Winston would most likely run in the Jazil, but feels his horse will be at a disadvantage against the likes of Mr. Buff or Stan the Man.

“Those horses are at the top of their form. They’re at the best they can be and we’re still working to get there,” Casse said. “But at some point you got to go ahead and do things. We’re happy. He’s moving well. I don’t see any reason not to run.”

Adventist, Backsideofthemoon, Roaming Union, and Small Bear complete the field.