Vyjack using Stymie as starting point

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though he seemed to regain his top form in one-turn races last year, Vyjack will be pointed to multiple-turn races to begin 2015.

Vyjack, who won the Grade 2 Kelso going a one-turn mile at Belmont last September, will make his 5-year-old debut in the $100,000 Stymie Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race around two turns March 22 at Aqueduct. Vyjack is using the Stymie as a stepping-stone to the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race run around three turns at Charles Town on April 18.

Vyjack won the Grade 2 Jerome and Grade 3 Gotham around two turns as a 3-year-old in 2013. His only two wins at age 4 came around one turn, a seven-furlong allowance race in April and the Kelso. He finished his 4-year-old campaign with a second-place finish to Micromanage in the Queens County at 1 1/8 miles.

“His last race, personally, I think he would have won if he had room to run,” said David Wilkenfeld, the owner of Vyjack. “I think two turns is no problem, though he’s had some races that say otherwise. To me, it’s more a mental thing than a physical thing. I think we’re going to be consistent with that this year and hope it works out.”

Wilkenfeld said he is also interested in trying Vyjack on turf this year.

“He trains really well over the synthetic track at Fair Hill, so we’ll figure out where that will be,” Wilkenfeld said.

Following the Queens County in December, Vyjack spent a couple of months at the Fair Hill training center, making use of that facility’s hyperbaric chamber and other amenities, including the synthetic track. Vyjack worked three times at Fair Hill before shipping to Aqueduct, where he worked five furlongs in 1:04.27 last Saturday. Vyjack’s trainer is Rudy Rodriguez, who is serving a suspension. Gustavo Rodriguez, Rudy’s brother and assistant, is operating the stable.

Others under consideration for the Stymie include Cousin Stephen, Effinex, Mail, Micromanage, and North Slope.

Wilkenfeld is also part-owner of Ackeret, who won last Sunday’s $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-olds. Ackeret, who earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, will be pointed to the Bay Shore on April 4, Wilkenfeld said.